_Letter of Supercargo_ JACOB DEDEL _to the Managers of the E.I.C.,
October 7, 1619._
Worshipful Wise Provident Gentlemen,
My last letter to you was dated May 20 last, in which I informed you of
my arrival at Cabo de bonne Esperance..., where I found Commander
Houtman...
On the first of June I was ready to set sail for Bantam from Cabo de
bonne Esperance but contrary winds prevented my putting to sea before
June 8th, when I sailed in company with the Hon. Houtman, pursuant to a
resolution of the Plenary Council. The ships were found to have nearly
the same sailing powers, so that we constantly remained in each other's
company. After having had plenty of westerly, south westerly and
southerly winds in 35, 36 and 37 degrees Southern Latitude, with
occasional stiff breezes, we safely made the required distance to
eastward, and on the 19th of July last came upon the south-lands situated
behind Java. We anchored in 14 fathom in 32Ω degrees latitude, the bottom
being level and hard; in full sight of the land the sea was 100 fathom
deep, the coast being steep and mountainous, the interior uniformly high,
of which I append a map. We used our best endeavours to make a landing,
which, however, could not conveniently be done owing to the steep coast,
whereupon we resolved to run a little more north, where the coast seemed
easier of access; but the wind steadily blowing very stiffly from the
north under the land, and the tide coming in from the south, we spent a
good deal of time in tacking, until a sudden squall from the west, which
made the coast a lee-shore and made us lose one of our anchors, threatened
to throw us on the coast. We then made all sail, and the wind coming
round a little, we stood out to sea, not deeming it advisable to continue
longer inshore in this bad weather with such large heavy ships and such
costly cargoes as we had entrusted to our care, and with great peril to
lose more precious time, but being contented with having seen the land
which at a more favourable time may be further explored with more fitting
vessels and smaller craft. We have seen no signs of inhabitants, nor did
we always keep near the coast, since it formed large bays which would
have taken up much time. Still we kept seeing the coast from time to
time, until in 27 degrees we came upon the land discovered by the ship
Eendracht, which land in the said latitude showed as a red, muddy coast,
which according to the surmises of some of us might not unlikely prove to
be gold-bearing, a point which may be cleared up in time.
Leaving the 27th degree, we shaped our course north and north by west,
until on the 19th of August we struck the island of Java 70 miles to
eastward of its western extremity...after which we arrived in Sunda
Caleppe Strait on the 23rd of the same month...
This 7th day of October, 1619.
On board the ship Amsterdam at anchor before our fortress of Jacatra.
Your Worships' Servant, JACOB DEDEL.
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