greatly surprised them, as they could not imagine how, in so short a
time, they had been enabled to pass so many degrees; the current
apparently carried them strongly towards the north. By their reckoning
they were found to have made twenty-four miles, the course northerly,
with a fresh breeze at times from the south-east.
They found it impossible to take an observation upon the 23rd, but, by
their reckoning, they had made sixteen miles, their course lying north
by west, the wind this day sometimes veering from east to west, weather
variable, rainy and occasionally calm. In the evening the wind stood at
south south-east.
On the 24th, the weather was dry, fresh, with the wind south-east by
south. About mid-day they found themselves in latitude 13° 10´, the
course twenty-five miles north by west.
On the 25th, the wind blew from the south-east, the weather dry, and
fresh, and the latitude 13° 30´. This day they had advanced by their
reckoning thirty-one miles, north by west, and saw much sea-weed.
The 26th day they were in latitude 9° 56´, the wind south-east, and the
weather dry. This day they advanced twenty-four miles in the same
direction.
On the 27th day the wind blew from the south-east, and the weather being
rainy they were unable to take an observation. After mid-day they saw
the land of Java, in latitude 8° according to their calculations, and
distant about four or five miles. They changed their course to west
north-west, hugging the coast until evening, when they discovered a
point beyond which lay an island abounding with trees. Having made for
this point they found, towards dusk, a bay, into which they entered,
following a course towards the north north-west, and casting anchor in
eight fathoms water, with a hard bottom, they passed the night there.
On the morning of the 28th, they weighed anchor, and rowed towards shore
to look for water, for they were reduced to extremity by thirst. Happily
they discovered a spring, at which they quenched their thirst and
refilled their casks, and towards mid-day resumed their course for
Batavia.
After midnight in the second watch of the 29th, they perceived an island
before them, which they left on their starboard or right side, and at
day-break found themselves near the cove which lies upon the west side
thereof, from whence they continued their course towards the west
north-west. By pursuing this route one gives a wide berth to the shore
at the bottom of this cove, but nears it again before the Trowuen
Islands are reached. About mid-day they found themselves in latitude 6°
48´, and that by reckoning they had made thirty miles, the course lying
west north-west, about three o’clock in the afternoon. They passed
between these two islands, and saw upon the more westerly one a great
quantity of cocoa-nut trees. About evening they were still distant one
mile from the south point of Java, and at the third bell of the second
watch found themselves exactly between Java and Prince’s Island. On the
morning of the thirtieth day they were near the coast of Prince’s
Island, and made only two miles that day. Towards evening a slight
breeze sprung up from the land.
The weather moderated on the 1st of July, and at mid-day they were still
full three leagues distant from the island called Dwaers-inden-wegh,[22]
the wind being inconstant. About evening the wind blew from the
north-west, so that they gained the island of which I speak. The night
was calm, and they were constrained to row.
On the morning of the second, being opposite to the island called
Toppers-hoëtien, they were forced to remain at anchor till nigh eleven
o’clock, expecting the sea breeze; but it rose so slightly that they
were compelled to continue rowing, and found by the evening that they
had only advanced two miles. At sunset they perceived a sail astern
opposite to the island Dwaers-inden-wegh, whereupon they reached the
coast and cast anchor there, resolved to await its coming. When the
morning came they boarded this vessel, hoping to obtain assistance and
arms for their defence against the Javanese in case they were at war
with the Dutch. They found the vessel accompanied by two others of the
Company, in one of which was Ramburgh, counsellor to the Company.
Pelsart went on board his vessel, and having recounted to him with grief
the accident that had befallen him, sailed with him to Batavia.
Whilst he is soliciting assistance, I will return to those of the crew
who remained upon the island; but I should first inform you that the
supercargo, named Jerome Cornelis, formerly an apothecary at Harlem, had
conspired with the pilot and some others, when off the coast of Africa,
to obtain possession of the ship and to take her to Dunkirk, or to avail
themselves of her for the purposes of piracy. This supercargo remained
upon the wreck ten days after the vessel had struck, having discovered
no means of reaching the shore. He even passed two days upon the
mainmast, which floated, and having from thence got upon a yard, at
length gained the land. In the absence of Pelsart he became commander,
and deemed this a suitable occasion for putting his original design into
execution, concluding that it would not be difficult to become master of
that which remained of the wreck, and to surprise the commander when he
should arrive with the assistance which he had gone to Batavia to seek,
and afterwards to cruise in these seas with his vessel. To accomplish
this it was necessary to get rid of those of the crew who were not of
his party; but before embruing his hands with blood, he caused his
accomplices to sign a species of compact, by which they promised
fidelity one to another. The entire crew was divided between three
islands; upon that of Cornelis, which they had named the graveyard of
Batavia, was the greatest number of men. One of them, by name Weybehays,
had been dispatched to another island to seek for water, and having
discovered some after a search of twenty days, he made the preconcerted
signal by lighting three fires, but in vain, for they were not seen by
the people of Cornelis’s company, the conspirators having, during that
time, murdered those who were not of their party. Of these they killed
thirty or forty; some few saved themselves upon pieces of wood, which
they joined together, and going in search of Weybehays informed him of
the horrible massacre that had taken place. Having with him forty-five
men he resolved to keep upon his guard, and to defend himself from these
assassins if they should make an attack upon his company, which, in
effect, they designed to do, and to treat the other party in the same
manner; for they feared lest their company, or that which remained upon
the third island, should inform the commander upon his arrival, and thus
prevent the execution of their design. They succeeded easily with the
party last mentioned, which was the weakest, killing the whole of them,
excepting seven children and some women. They hoped to succeed as easily
with Weybehays’ company, and in the meanwhile broke open the chests of
merchandise which had been saved from the vessel. Jerome Cornelis caused
clothing to be made for his company out of the rich stuffs which he
found therein, choosing to himself a body guard, each of whom he clothed
in scarlet, embroidered with gold and silver. Regarding the women as
part of the spoil, he took one for himself, and gave one of the
daughters of the minister to a principal member of his party, abandoning
the other three for public use; he drew up also certain rules for the
future conduct of his men.
After these horrible proceedings, he caused himself to be elected
captain-general by a document, which he compelled all his companions to
sign. He afterwards sent twenty-two men in two shallops to destroy the
company of Weybehays, but they met with a repulse. Taking with him
thirty-seven men he went himself against Weybehays, who received him at
the water’s edge as he disembarked, and forced him to retire, although
he had no other weapons but clubs, the ends of which he had armed with
spikes. Finding force unavailing he had recourse to other means. He
proposed a treaty of peace, the chaplain who remained with Weybehays
drawing up the conditions; it was agreed to with this proviso, that
Weybehays’ company should remain unmolested, who, upon their part,
agreed to deliver up a little boat in which one of the sailors had
escaped from the island where Cornelis was located to that of Weybehays,
receiving in return some stuffs for clothing his people. During the
negotiations, Cornelis wrote to certain French soldiers who belonged to
the company, offering to each six thousand pounds to corrupt them, with
the hope that with this assistance he might easily compass his design.
His letters, which were without effect, were shown to Weybehays, and
Cornelis, who was ignorant of their disclosure, having arrived the next
day with three or four others to find Weybehays and bring him the
apparel, the latter caused him to be attacked, killed two or three of
his company, and took Cornelis himself prisoner. One of them, by name
Wouterlos, who escaped from this rout, returned the following day to
renew the attack, but with little success.
Pelsart arrived during these occurrences in the frigate _Sardam_; as he
approached the wreck he observed smoke from a distance, rising from one
of the islands, a circumstance that afforded him great consolation,
since he perceived by it that his people were not all dead. He cast
anchor, and threw himself immediately into a skiff with bread and wine,
and proceeded to land in one of the islands. Nearly at the same time a
boat came alongside armed with four men. Weybehays, who was one of the
four, ran to him, informed him of the massacre, and advised him to
return as speedily as possible to his vessel, for that the conspirators
designed to surprise him—having already murdered twenty-five persons—and
to attack him with two shallops; adding, that he himself had that
morning been at close quarters with them. Pelsart perceived at the same
time the two shallops coming towards him, and had scarcely got on board
his own vessel before they came alongside. He was surprised to see the
people covered with embroidery of gold and silver, and weapons in their
hands, and demanded of them why they approached the vessel armed. They
replied that they would inform him when they came on board. He commanded
them to cast their arms into the sea, or otherwise he would sink them.
Finding themselves compelled to submit, they threw away their weapons,
and, being ordered on board, were immediately placed in irons. One of
them, named Jan de Bremen, who was the first examined, confessed that he
had put to death, or assisted in the assassination of twenty-seven
persons. The same evening Weybehays brought his prisoner on board.
On the 18th day of September, the captain and the master-pilot, taking
with them ten men of Weybehays’ company, passed over in boats to the
island of Cornelis. Those who still remained thereon lost all courage as
soon as they saw them alongside, and allowed themselves to be placed in
irons. The captain’s first care was to make search for the jewels, which
had been distributed here and there. The whole of these were discovered
at the first search, with the exception of a chain of gold and a ring,
the latter of which was afterwards recovered. The wreck was afterwards
visited. The vessel was broken into a hundred pieces; the keel upon one
side aground upon a sandbank, the forepart of the vessel resting upon a
rock, and other pieces scattered here and there, holding out little hope
to Pelsart of saving any part of the Company’s merchandise. The steward
informed him, that about one month previous, upon the only fine day they
had had during their residence there, having gone out fishing near the
wreck, he had struck against one of the chests filled with silver with
the end of a pike.
On the 19th, they conveyed the other accomplices to the island for the
purpose of examining them.
On the 20th, they sent various necessaries to Weybehays’ company, and
brought away water from them; for, after being ten days upon the island
without discovering any, they thought of tasting some which was in two
wells, but which they had believed to be salt, because it rose and fell
with the tide, but they afterwards found it to be good to drink.
On the 21st, they found the tide very low, and the wind so strong from
the east south-east, that the boat could not go out this day.
On the 22nd, they again wished to examine the wreck, but the sea broke
upon it so roughly that the swimmers themselves did not venture to
approach it.
On the 25th, the master and pilot approached it at a favourable moment,
and those who remained on shore perceiving that there was something that
they were unable to remove therefrom, sent assistance to them, the
captain going in person, and they found that they had discovered a chest
full of silver. A second chest was afterwards found, and the two were
placed on dry land; but they were unable to obtain more that day on
account of the bad weather, although the divers of Guzarat assured them
they had found six other chests which they could easily remove.
On the 26th, after they had dined, the weather being fine and the tide
very low, the master set out for the spot where the chests had been seen
and recovered three, placing an anchor and a piece of artillery to mark
the spot where a fourth remained, which, after great endeavours, they
found themselves unable to move.
On the 27th, the wind blew very cold from the south.
On the 28th, the wind continued from the same quarter, and as it did not
suffer them to work near the wreck, the captain assembled a council to
advise whether he should bring the prisoners to trial there, or carry
them to Batavia, to be there tried by the officers of the Company. The
great number of them, and the temptation offered by the great treasures
which they had recovered from the wreck, and with which the frigate was
loaded, caused the majority to vote for their immediate trial and
execution, which was there and then carried into effect.
VOYAGE OF GERRIT THOMASZ POOL TO THE SOUTH LAND.
TRANSLATED FROM VALENTYN’S “BESCHRYVINGE VAN BANDA,” p. 47.
On the 26th of March, 1636, there arrived two shallops, the _Amsterdam_
and the _Weasel_, sent from Amboina, with orders to Governor Acoley at
Banda, to give to the commander of these ships, Gerard Thomasz Pool,
such information concerning the South Land as might be necessary for him
to perform a voyage thither, under the orders of the honourable Company.
After he had received the desired instructions, and had been furnished
with sufficient provisions and other necessaries, he sailed with those
vessels on the 17th of April.
On the 30th of June following both these vessels returned, and informed
the governor that, having reached the Flat Point in about 4½ degrees of
south latitude on the 18th of April, they had determined to send some of
their people on shore to take a view of the country. The Commander Pool,
desirous to see everything himself, resolved to be of the party, and
took with him his steward, Andries Schiller, a native of Nuremberg. They
were scarcely landed, when a large body of wild Southlanders, who at
first appeared friendly, but acted afterwards in a hostile manner,
surrounded them, in so much that it was not in their power to escape.
The Commander Pool perceiving the danger greater than he at first
expected, was still in hopes to escape; but he found himself attacked
one of the first, and received a blow with a hazegay, which immediately
brought him to the ground. When he recovered his senses and saw that his
steward was still defending himself, he called out to him that he would
do better to try to make his escape, as otherwise he would not be able
to do it, for the savages were coming on in yet greater numbers. He did
so, but was likewise soon knocked down.
The wild Southlanders, perceiving the hanger which the Commander Pool
had in his hand, forced it from him and cut these two men to pieces, and
carried them into the wood; but it never could be discovered what they
did with them, nor what became of the two sailors who were likewise
missing.
The crew could only tell, that these Southlanders have a very black
skin, much like the Caffers of Angola, but with long black hair on their
head, and were much stouter and taller in stature than any Europeans,
and quite naked, with the exception of their middle. They also reported
that one of them, appearing to be a chief, had a rough skin of some wild
beast wrapped round his neck; and that they were armed partly with
hazegays, and a kind of javelins with sharp iron points; and partly with
bows and arrows.
ACCOUNT OF THE WRECK OF THE SHIP “DE VERGULDE DRAECK” ON THE SOUTHLAND,
AND THE EXPEDITIONS UNDERTAKEN,
BOTH FROM BATAVIA AND THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, IN SEARCH OF THE SURVIVORS
AND MONEY AND GOODS WHICH MIGHT BE FOUND ON THE WRECK, AND OF THE SMALL
SUCCESS WHICH ATTENDED THEM.
_Drawn up and Translated from Authentic MS. Copies of the Logbooks in
the Royal Archives at the Hague._
The ship _De Vergulde Draeck_, equipped by the Chamber of Amsterdam,
having sailed on the 4th of October, 1655, from Tessel to East India,
with a rich cargo, including 78,600 guilders in cash, in eight boxes,
was wrecked very suddenly on the 28th of April, at night, at the
beginning of the first day-watch, on the coast of the Southland, on a
reef stretching out to sea about one mile and a half, latitude 30⅔°. Of
one hundred and ninety-three souls only seventy-five, among whom were
the skipper Pieter Aberts and the under-steersman, reached the shore
alive. Nothing was saved from the ship, which foundered and sunk at
once, except a small quantity of provisions washed on shore by the
waves. The news was brought to Batavia by one of the ship’s boats, with
the above-mentioned steersman and six sailors, after beating about for a
month, on the 7th of June, with the account that the sixty-eight persons
who remained behind were exerting themselves to get their boat afloat
again, which lay deeply embedded in the sand, that they might send it
also with some of their number to Batavia. The General and Council
resolved, for the rescue both of the above-mentioned unfortunate men,
and also of the Company’s specie and merchandise, to get ready without
delay a quick-sailing fly-boat, the _Witte Valck_, provisioned for five
months, with some further supplies for the above-mentioned men at the
Southland; as also some expert divers, with hatchets and other necessary
implements. This they ordered to join company with the yacht the _Goede
Hoop_, then cruizing in the Straits of Sunda, with instructions that
they should both proceed together without loss of time from the Straits
southwards, as far as 32° or 33° latitude, or until they met a strong
westerly trade-wind, in which case they would steer towards the coast of
the Southland. They were, moreover, to explore the said coast with
particular attention, near the part where the ship had been wrecked,
further than it had been already known, and to lay it down on a map,
with its capes, inlets, bays, rocks, sands, and shoals.
The _Witte Valck_ set sail on the 8th of June, in order to join company
with the yacht _Goede Hoop_, in the Sunda Straits. They sailed out
together, but returned without having succeeded in their object; the
former, on the 14th of September, and the yacht a month afterwards,
having been forced by a severe storm to part company on the 18th of
July, on their way out. According to the captain’s journals lying at
Batavia, they had reached the coast just in the winter time, during
which season the sea is so boisterous there, that an approach to the
coast is a matter of extreme danger. Thus, as these documents inform us,
they were compelled, after experiencing great danger and exhausting
every effort, to put off from the coast and to return to Batavia,
leaving behind them eleven men of the yacht _Hoop_, three of them having
wandered too far into the woods and eight having been sent in search of
them, but not one of the number returned. As the boat in which they had
rowed to land was found dashed to pieces on the shore, the whole number,
most probably, came to an untimely end. According to the reports which
were made, some men or some signs of the wreck had been noticed,
although the _Goede Hoop_, which had been at the place where the ship
was supposed to have been wrecked, gave a different statement.
Subsequently the commander at the Cape of Good Hope, according to
instructions sent to him, gave orders in the year 1657 to the fly-boat
_Vinck_, bound thence to Batavia, to touch _en passant_ at the same
place where the above-mentioned disaster had occurred, that search might
be made for the unfortunate men. But his vessel also having arrived at
the unfavourable season, found no means of landing either with fly-boat
or boat, so as to make a proper search. According to its reports,
having, on the 8th of June, 1657, during the daytime, seen signs of land
in 29° 7´ south latitude, and the weather being very favourable, they
anchored at night in twenty-five fathoms water, the bottom being coarse
sand mixed with coral. In the morning, when day dawned, they saw the
surf breaking over the reef at the foot of which they lay, and on one
side of them the Southland, presenting a low sandy shore, on which their
anchor lifted. They continued their course along the coast in order to
observe the land, which was still kept in sight the following day. The
weather, however, became so boisterous, and the breakers rolled all
along the coast with such violence, that they were compelled to put out
a little further to sea, yet, throughout the 10th and 11th of June, they
still followed the coast line in forty or fifty fathoms water. However,
the chance of landing grew gradually less as they proceeded, for the
weather continued stormy, with thunder and lightning, so that it became
necessary to get clear of the coast. They allowed their ship to drive
before the wind under bare poles until the 12th, when they loosened sail
a little, the wind shifting between S., S.S.W., and S.S.E., and stood
out towards Batavia, where they arrived on the 27th.
[Illustration:
’T LANT VAN EENDRACHT.
OFT AFBEELDINGE VAN ’T ZUŸTLANDT ONDECKT DOOR
DEN SCHIPPER AUCKE PIETERS JONCK.
IN DE MAENDT FEBRUARIO EN MAART Aº 1658, MET EMELOORT.
]
[Illustration:
’T LANT VAN EENDRACHT.
OFT AFBEELDINGE VAN ’T ZUŸTLANDT ONDECKT DOOR
DEN SCHIPPER SAMUEL VOLCKERTS.
IN DE MAENDT FEBRUARIO EN MAART Aº. 1658, MET DE WAKENDE BOEY.
_Kell Bro^s. lith^{rs}. Castle St Holborn._
]