there departed from Amsterdam three ships and a Pinnace to sayle into the
East Indies, set forth by diuers rich Marchantes: The first called
Mauritius, of the burthen of 400. tunnes, hauing in her sixe demie canon,
fourteene Culuerins, and other peeces, and 4. peeces to shoot stones, and
84. men: the Mayster Iohn Moleuate, the Factor Cornelius Houtman: The
second named Hollandia, of the burthen of 400. tunnes, having 85. men,
seuen brasse peeces, twelue peeces for stones, and 13. iron peeces, the
Mayster Iohn Dignums, the Factor Gerrit van Buiningen, the thirde called
Amsterdam, of the burthen of 200. tuns, wherein were 59. men, sixe brasse
peeces, ten iron peeces, and sixe peeces for stones, the Mayster Iohn
Iacobson Schellinger, the Factor Reginer van Hel: The fourth being a
Pinnace called the Doue, of the burthen of 50. tunnes, with twenty men, the
Mayster Simon Lambertson: [Sidenote: When and how the ships set saile.]
Which 4. ships vpon the 21. of the same moneth came vnto the Tassel, where
they stayed for the space of 12. daies to take in their lading, and the
seconde of Aprill following, they set saile with a North east winde and
following on their course the fourth of the same moneth they ['the' in
source text--KTH] passed the heades; The sixt they saw Heyssant, the 10. of
April they passed by the Barles of Lisbon: With an East and North East
wind, the 17. of Aprill they discouered two of the Islands of Canaries: The
19. Palm, and Pic, Los Romeros, and Fero: The 25. of Aprill they saw Bona
visita, the 16. they ankered vnder Isole de May: The 27. they set sayle
againe and held their course South Southeast. The 4. of May, we espied two
of the King of Spaines ships, that came from Lisbone, and went for the East
Indies, about 1000. or 1200. tunnes each ship, with whom we spake, and told
them that we were bound for the straights of Magellanes, but being better
of sayle then they wee got presently out of their sight. The 12. of May
being vnder fiue degrees on this side the Equinoctiall line, we espyed fiue
ships laden with Sugar, comming from the Island of S. Thomas, and sayled
for Lisbone, to whome we gaue certaine letters, which were safely deliuered
in Holland. [Sidenote: Their victuailes stunke and spoyled.] Departing from
them and keeping on our course, vpon the fourth of Iune we passed the
Equinoctial line, where the extreame heat of the ayre spoyled all our
victuailes: Our flesh and fishe stunke, our Bisket molded, our Beere
sowred, our water stunke, and our Butter became as thinne as Oyle, whereby
diuers of our men fell sicke, and many of them dyed; but after that we
learned what meat and drinke we should carrie with vs that would keepe
good. [Sidenote: They passed the sandes of Brasilia.] The 28 of Iune we
passed the sandes of Brasill, by the Portingalles called Abrolhos, which
are certaine places which men must looke warely vnto, otherwise they are
very dangerous.
These sandes lie vnder 18. degrees, and you must passe betweene the coast
of Guine and the sandes aforesaid, not going too neer eyther of them,
otherwise close by the Coast there are great calmes, thunders, raines and
lightnings, with great stormes, harde by the sands men are in daunger to be
cast away: and so sayling on their course, first East South East, then East
and East and by North. Vpon the seconde of Iuly wee passed Tropicus Cancri,
vnder 23. degrees, and 1/2. The 13. of the same Month, we espied many
blacke birdes. [Sidenote: Tokens of the Cape de bona Sperance.] The 19.
great numbers of white birdes, and the 20. a bird as bigge as a Swan,
whereof foure or fiue together is a good signe of being neere the Cape de
bona Sperance. These birdes are alwaies about the said Cape, and are good
signes of being before it.
The second of August we saw the land of the Cape de bona Sperance, and the
fourth of the same Month we entered into a hauen called Agne Sambras, where
wee ankered, and found good depth at 8. or 9. fadome water, sandy ground.
The 5. day we went on shore to gather fruite, therewith to refresh our
sicke men, that were thirty to 33 in one shippe. In this bay lyeth a smal
Islande, wherern are many birdes called Pyncuius and sea Wolues that are
taken with mens handes: we went into the countrey and spake with the
inhabitants, who brought diuers fresh victuailes aborde our shippes, for a
knife or small peece of Iron, etc. giuing vs an Oxe, or a sheepe etc. The
sheepe in those Countries haue great tayles, and are fat and delicate.
Their ozen [sic--KTH] are indifferent good, hauing lumps of flesh vpon
their backes, and are as fat as any of our good brisket beefe: the
inhabitantes are of small stature, well ioynted and boned, they goe naked,
couering their members with Foxes and other beastes tayles: they seeme
cruell, yet with vs they vsed all kind of friendship, but are very beastly
and stinking, in such sort, that you may smell them in the wind at the
least of a fadome from you: They are apparelled with beastes skinnes made
fast about their neckes: some of them, being of the better sort, had their
mantles cut and raysed checkerwise, which is a great ornament with them:
They eate raw flesh, as it is new killed, and the entrailes of beastes
without washing or making cleane, gnawing it like dogs, vnder their feet
they tye peeces of beastes skinnes, in steed of shooes, that they trauel in
the hard wayes: We could not see their habitations, for wee saw no houses
they had, neither could wee vnderstande them, for they speake very
strangely, much like the children in our Countrey with their pipes, and
clocking like Turkey Cockes: At the first wee saw about thirtie of them,
with weapons like pikes, with broade heades of Iron, about their armes they
ware ringes of Elpen bones: There wee coulde finde neyther Oringes nor
Lemons, which we purposely sought for.
[Sidenote: With what wind they sailed to S. Laurence.] The 11. of August we
hoysed anker, sayling towards the Island of S. Laurence, and the 22. of the
same month we had a contrary wind that blew North East: the 25. a West
winde, and so held our course East North East: The 28. there blew a South
East wind, and the 30. a South West winde, and our course lay North North
East to sayle to the Isle of S. Laurence. The first of September wee
discouered the point of the Islande of S. Laurence, vnder 16 degrees, and
the third day we saw the Island being very desirous to go on land, for that
many of our men were sicke, whereby wee coulde hardly rule our shippes, or
bring them farther without healing or refreshing of our men. [Sidenote:
They had great store of fish for 2 or 3 kniues.] The 9. of September Iohn
Schellinger sent out his boate to rowe to lande, where they founde three
Fishermen, of whome for two or three kniues they had great store of fishes.
The 13. we entered into a small Bay, but because wee founde no good anker
ground, as also being very foule we sayled out againe. The 14. we sayled
vnder a small Island about a mile or 2. great, by the Hollanders called
their Church yarde, or the dead Island, because many saylers dying in that
place, were buried in the African earth, and the 29. of the same Month died
Iohn Dignumsz Mayster of the Lyon of Holland, and was buried the next day
after.
There Iohn Peters of Delft Sayler of the Hollandia, and Koelken van
Maidenblick of the Amsterdam were set on shore vpon the Island of S.
Laurence, where they were left because they had committed certaine
notorious crimes.
Meane time the Pinnace was sent out to looke for fresh water, which hauing
found, the boat returned to bring vs newes, and therewith the fleete sayled
thither, and the 10. of October the shippes ankered before the Riuer, and
went on shore, where we found good prouision of all necessaries, the
inhabitants being very willing thereunto, bringing vs of al things that we
needed, where for a Pewter Spoone wee had an Oxe, or three sheepe.
[Sidenote: How the wilde men assailed them, and forced them to insconce
themselues.] The 11. of October we went on shore with a boat full of sicke
men and the next day we were assayled by a company of wild men, against
whom our weapons little preuayled, for they hurt one of our men and tooke
all that we had from vs, whereby vpon the thirteenth of the same Month, wee
were forced to insconse our selues with pieces of wood and braunches of
trees, making Cabins within our Sconse, for that the 15. of October they
came againe, but then we tooke one, and slew another of them. The 19. of
Nouember our Pilot Claes Ianson was intrapped and murthered by the wild
people, although we vsed all the means we could to helpe him, but they
feared no weapons, about ten or twelue dayes after we tooke one of them
that paide for his death. [Sidenote: The maner and custome of the wild
people.] The first of December our men hauing for the most part recouered
their healthes, were all carryed aborde the ships: in that parte of
Madagascar the people are of good condition, and goe naked, onely with a
Cotton cloth before their priuie members, and some from their breasts
downward: Their ornaments are Copper ringes about their armes, but Tin
rings are more esteemed with them, and therefore tinne with them is good
marchaundise. Their Oxen haue great lumpes of fat vpon their backes: Their
sheepes tayles way at the least twelue pound, being of an elle long, and
two and twentie inches thick. They gaue vs six of those sheepe for a tinne
Spoone: They dwel in cottages and liue very poorely: they feare the noyse
of a peece, for with one Caliuer you shall make an hundred of them runne
away: Wee coulde not perceyue any religion they had, but after wee were
informed that they helde the law of Mahomet, for the two boyes that wee
tooke from of the land, shewed vs their circumcision: There we found no
fruit of Tambaxiumes, but great numbers of Parrats, Medicats, and Turtle
Doues, whereof we killed and eat many. The second of December we burned our
sconse, and fourteene of our men going further into the Islande brought
certaine of the countreymen prisoners, and being abord our ships taught
them what they shoulde doe. The thirteenth of December wee hoysed anker,
minding to holde on our course for the Islands of Iaua, and for that by
reason of the pleasantnesse of the ayre we had in a manner all recouered
our healthes, we set our course East and by North, and East Northeast. The
nineteenth of the same Month wee were separated by foule weather, and the
22. with great ioy we met againe. The tenth of Ianuarie Vechter Willemson
dyed, being a verie honest man, and Pilot in Molenaers shippe, for whome we
were much grieued, and the same day we determined to put backe againe for
the Islande of S. Laurence, for as then wee began againe to haue a great
scouring among our men, and many of them fell sicke: [Sidenote: The wilde
men brought things aborde to comfort them.] But presently therevpon we
espied the Islande of Saint Mary, and the next day being arriued there,
some of the inhabitants came abord our shippes with a basket of Ryce, Sugar
canes, Citrons, Lemons, and Hens, whereof we were very glad, as being
phisicke for vs.
The 13. 14. 15. 16. and 17. dayes we were on land, where we bought Ryce,
Hens, Sugar-canes, Citrons and Lemons in great aboundance, and other kinde
of fruites to vs vnknowne, also good fish, and greene Ginger: There we
tooke a Fish, which thirteen men could hardly pull into our shippe, and
because the Island was little, and we had many men, wee entred into the Bay
of the firme land with our Pinnace, where for a string of Beades of small
value we had a tunne of Ryce: [Sidenote: The description of one of their
kings.] The King came abord our Pinnace to see it, and was as blacke as a
Deuill, with two hornes made fast vpon his heade, and all his body naked
like the rest of the countrey people.
This Island lyeth about a small mile from Madagascar, about 19 degrees
Southward from the Equinoctiall line (Madagascar or S. Laurence is an
Islande belonging to the Countrey of Africa, and lyeth Southwarde vnder 26
degrees, ending Northwarde vnder 11 degrees by the inhabitants it is called
Madagascar, and by the Portingalles the Islande of S. Laurence, because it
was discouered on S. Laurence day: The riches of this Island is great, it
aboundeth in Ryce, Honnie, Waxe, Cotton, Lemons, Cloues, etc. The
inhabitants are blacke and go naked, but the haire vpon their heades is not
so much curled as those of the Mosambique, and they are not ful so blacke.)
The 23. of Ianuary we ankered before a Riuer where likewise we had all kind
of necessaries, and after that we went to lie vnder a small Islande within
the same Bay.
[Sidenote: The wilde people came on borde their ships and seemed very
friendly.] The 25. Ianuarie there came some of the wild people aborde our
ships, making signes to haue vs go on land, which we did, and there we had
good Ryce and other fruits in great abundance. On the left side of the
entry of the Riuer lyeth one of their Townes, and on the right hand two
townes, where we had most of our trafique.
The 26. of Ianuarie wee had interpreters, whom we made to drink wine,
wherewith they were as drunk as beastes.
The manner and condition of the people inhabiting in the great Bay of
Antogil, on this side the Equinoctiall line vnder 16 degrees, on the
South side of the Island Madagascar.
It is a very great Bay, about ten mile broade, behind it lyeth a high
Island, and three small Islands: there is good harbour against all windes.
The Island is inhabited, and therein groweth all kindes of fruites, it hath
a great fall of water that commeth down out of the hilles, where we laded
all our water, and halfe a mile from thence within the land, there runneth
a great Riuer, wherein likewise there is much water to be had, when you
enter into the Riuer about a quarter of a mile inward on the left hand,
ther is a smal towne or village, not closed nor fortified, in it there is
about 200. houses, and on the right hand where the Riuer diuideth it selfe,
there is two other such Townes: They were all compassed with palles, and
the houses were placed about two foote aboue the ground, vpon foure or fiue
palles or stakes of wood, and all the vpper partes of reede and strawe.
[Sidenote: Why their houses stand so high aboue the earth.] The cause why
their houses are made so high from the ground is to auoide the danger of
venemous beastes that are there in great aboundance, as Serpents, Snakes,
Camelions, and other kindes of beastes. The people are very blacke, but
their hayre and beardes are not so much curled as the right Mores, nor
their noses nor lippes so great nor flat. They are subtill and strong
people, much addicted to drinking, for they will bee as drunke as Swine,
with a kind of drinke made of Honie and Ryce. [Sidenote: The maner of the
wilde men in that countrey.] They go naked, onely that about their midles
they weare a cloth made of the barke of a tree, drawne in small threedes:
they make and use very fine Mats to sitte vppon: They haue no great store
of weapons, for that halfe of them are vnprouided, and that they vse is a
speare of nine ten foote long with a great wooden Target: They are very
fearefull of our Caliuers, for 5. or sixe men with Caliuers will cause
great numbers of them to flie away: We taught them what our peeces ment for
wee perceyued that they knew them not, before they had proued them: at the
first they thought they coulde carry no further then their owne lengthes,
for they knew not what they were: Their Kinges ornamentes were ten or
twelue Copper Rings about his armes: if we had had such Ringes with vs, wee
might haue sold them at what prices wee woulde. They likewise vse beades of
Glasse, which they weare about their armes and neckes, by them esteemed for
great ornaments: for a boxe of beades of small value, we had an Oxe, or
three or foure Sheepe; rounde about this Bay are townes and villages, where
you may haue of all things to refresh your selues, Lemons and Citrons are
there greater and better then in Portingall: Likewise Oringes, Ryce,
Hennes, Goats, Honie, and many other sortes of fruites, and to conclude it
is the best Bay in all the world to refresh ships. Being on land we were
wel entertayned, and must of force drink with them of their drinke made of
Hony and Ryce: There we trafiqued with them, and had sufficient of euery
thing, but euery night we went aborde our shippes.
The third of February we had so great a storme, that most of our ankers
were lost, and we ran vpon the land in great daunger to cast our ships
away, but God holpe vs, for the storme ceased, and then we went to hoyse vp
our lost ankers, and so againe went to anker vnder the Island, glad that we
had so well escaped that daunger. The fift of February we went to seeke for
our boats, but the wild men had smitten them in peeces, and taken out the
nailes, thinking likewise that our shippes woulde haue beene cast away vpon
the shore, which they still expected: and when we came thither, they stood
vpon the shore with their weapons in hand and threw stones at vs, and we
perceyuing them in that minde, made towardes our shippes, for we desired
not to reuenge our selues, nor once to fight with them without commission
from our Generall, whom we certified thereof. The eyght of February we
rowed into the Riuer to buy cattle, and other things, but they were become
our enemies, threatning and casting stones at vs, wherevpbn we put out two
shalops to run a shore close to the land, and made our Caliuers and other
weapons ready.
Wherewith we shut at them, but they feared not our shot, for they knew not
what they ment, they thought likewise that the peeces coulde carrie no
further then they were long: but when they sawe eight or nine of their
fellowes dead, they fled into the woodes, and wee entering vpon the lande
set fire on their houses, whereof we burnt about twentie or thirtie. The 9.
of Februarie we sailed on the other side to buy cattle, and other
necessaries, but they seemed vnwilling to deale with vs, but we threatning
to burne their houses, they brought vs Cattle and fruites inough, with all
things else to our desires.
The 12. of Februarie wee hoised anker, and set sayle out of the great Bay
of Antongill, being well prouided of all necessaries, we put out with a
North wind, the Bay stretching Northeast and Southwest: The 2. of March we
had a West winde, our course being East and East and by North towards Iaua.
In March and Aprill about the Islande of Brandawe, we found that our
Compasses helde two Strikes to farre Northwarde, and we coulde not perceiue
the sands that are set downe in the Portingalles sea Cards, but we saw many
turnings of streames, and we were much troubled, with calmes, but with the
new Moone we had winde enough out of the West and North West. The 27. of
May we found the water abord our shippes to bee much lessened, and
therefore euery mans portion was but halfe as much as he was wont to haue;
so that each man was allowed but foure draughts euery day, which was but a
small quantitie. Whereby through the extreame heat we endured great thirst,
so that at that time a draught of water abord our ship was worth a Riall of
8. The first of Iuly we saw the Islande of Emgano, whereat we much
reioyced, because of the great thirst wee endured in our shippe, and when
wee made neerer to it, we perceyued it to be an Islande lying before the
straightes of Sonda, vnder 9. degrees on the South side of the line.
The sixt of Iuly we put somewhat nearer to the land, and there we saw sixe
or seuen canoes, lying vnder the shore but farre off, and durst not make
toward vs: in the end we manned out a shalop and rowed to land, but they
made from vs, and when our men were hard by the shore, there we saw about
40. or 50. of them standing vpon the shore with their bowes; wherewith our
men durst not land, for they seemed to be a cruell kind of people, and
altogether wild, for they went all naked, not hauing any thing before their
priuy members. They were of a reddish colour, but when our men saw no
aduantage they turned again vnto their shippes.
The seuenth of Iuly we saw the point of the land of Sumatra, which is a
verie high land descending downewarde with a long end.
The 11. of the same Month we were close vnder the land, where there lay an
Island, and there we ankered.
The 12. of Iuly in the morning we saw certaine ships, whereof one came vnto
vs, wee rowed vnto it with a shalop, and spake with it, but we could not
vnderstand them, but they shewed vs where we should haue water, which made
vs glad, that wee might once againe haue our bellies full of water: it
being almost foure Monthes that wee had not seene any land, nor taken in
any fresh victuailes. We sent our Pinace to the firme land of Sumatra,
there to seeke for some reliefe: for that where we lay there dwelt not any
man. [Sidenote: The maner of the Gouernor of Soumatras comming on bord.]
The 13. of July the Captain or principall ruler of Sumatra came abord our
ships to see them, which was done with great solemnitie, hee being
apparelled after the Turkish manner, with a wreath about his heade, and a
fearefull countenance, small eyes, great eye browes, and little beard, for
a man might tell all the haires vpon his chinne: he brought vs a present of
Betele, which are leaues which they continually chaw, and eat it with
chalke.
This Island of Sumatra or Taprobana (as it is saide) is the greatest of all
the Orientall Islandes, it is diuided from the firme land of Malacca by a
straight and dangerous sea, by reason of many Islandes and cliffes that are
within it: Out of this Island as some men are of opinion, Salomon had his
Gold wherewith he beautified the Temple, and his owne pallace, and then in
the Bible it should be named Orphir, for certainly Sumatra is rich of mynes
of Golde, Siluer, and Mettall, and the inhabitants thereof are very expert
in melting of brasse peeces: Therein is a fountaine of pure Balsame, the
Portingalles haue no fortresse therein, yet they traffique in certaine
hauens, specially in Pedir and Campar: There is also in this Island a place
called Manancabo, where they make poinyardes and daggers, by them calde
cryses, which are much esteemed in those Countries, and those of Malacca
and Iaua, hold them for their best weapons, and with them are very bold.
The same day our Pinnace returned againe vnto vs, bringing vs good news,
that wee were welcome vnto the Countrey people, and brought vs certaine
Indian Nuttes or Cocus, Melons, Cocombers, Onions, Garlicke, and a sample
of Peper and other spices, which liked vs well.
The fourteenth of June we laded in some fresh water.
Right ouer against Sumatra, on the South side of the Equinoctiall lyeth the
Islande of Iaua Maior, or great Iaua, and these two Islandes are deuided by
a straight commonly called the straight of Sunda, which lyeth between these
two Islands, bearing the name of the principall hauen of Iaua called Sunda:
In this channel there runneth a great streame, and course of narrow waters,
through this straight M. Condlish an Englishman passed with his ship,
comming out of the South sea from new Spaine. Iaua beginneth vnder seuen
degrees on the South side, and so stretcheth East and South 150. miles
long, it is very fruitfull, specially of Ryce, Catle Hogges, Sheepe,
Hennes, Onions, Garlike, Indian Nuttes, and all kinde of Spices, as Cloues,
Nutmegges, Mace, etc. Which they carrie to Malacca. The chiefe hauen in the
Islande is Sunda Calapa, there you have much Pepper, better then that of
India, or of Malabar, and there you may yearely lade 4. or 5000. Quintales
of Pepper Portingall waight, there likewise you haue great store of
frankencense, Camphora, and some Diamants: but they haue no other kinde of
money but a certaine peece called Caixa, as bigge as a Hollands Doibt, but
not so thicke, with a hole in the middle to hang it vpon a string, in which
manner they commonly hange hundrethes or thousandes together, and with them
they know how to make their accountes, which is two hundred Caixas make a
Sata, and fiue Satas make a thousand Caixas, which is as much as one
Crusado of Portingall, or three Carolus Gilderns, Flemish money: Pepper is
solde by the sacke, each sacke waying 45. Catten waight of China, each
Catte as much as 20. ounces Portingall waight, and each sacke is worth in
that Country at the least 5000. Caixas, and when it is highest at 6. or
7000. Caixas: Mace, Cloues, Nutmegs, white and blacke Beniamin, Camphora,
are sold by the Bhar, each barre waying 350. Catten of China: Mace that is
faire and good is commonly worth from 100. to 120. thousande Caixas: Good
Cloues accordingly, and foure Cloues called Bastan are worth 70. and 80.
thousand Caixas the Bhar: Nutmegs are alwaies worth 20. and 25 thousand
Caixas the Bhar: White and blacke Beniamin is worth 150. and 180. thousand
Caixas, and sometimes 200. thousand. The wares that are there desired and
exchanged for spices, are diuers sortes and colours of Cotton Linnen, which
come out of seuerall Prouinces; and if our Cambricke or fine Hollande were
carryed thither, it would peraduenture bee more esteemed then the Cotton
linnen of India.