THE DESCRIPTION of a voyage made by certain Ships of Holland into the East INDIES. With their adventures and success: Together With the description of the Countries, Towns, and inhabitants of the same: Who set forth on the second of April 1595. and returned on the 14. of August. 1597.  
Translated out of Dutch into English by W. P.   depiction of a ship 
LONDON Imprinted by john Wolf. 1598.   

To the right worshipful Sir James Scudamore, Knight.  
RIght worshipful, this small treaty (written in Dutch, showing a late voyage performed by certain Hollanders to the Islands of java, part of the East Indies) falling into my hands, and in my judgement deserving no less commendation than those of our Country men, (as Captain Raimond in the Penelope, Master Foxcroft in the Merchant Royal, and M. james Lancaster in the Edward Bonaventure, unto the said East Indies, by the Cape de Bona Sperance, in Anno 1591. as also M. john Newberry, and Raphael Fich over land through Syria from Aleppo unto Ormus and Goa, and by the said Raphael Fich himself to Bengala, Malacca, Pegu, and other places in Anno 1583. as at large appeareth in a book written by M. Richard Haclute a Gentleman very studious therein, & entitled the English voyages) I thought it not unconvenient to translate the same into our mother tongue, thereby to procure more light and encouragement to such as are desirous to travel those Countries, for the common wealth and commodity of this Realm and themselves. And knowing that all men are not like affected, I was so bold to shroud it under your worship's protection, as being assured of your good disposition to the favouring of travel and travelers, (and whereby it hath pleased God to advance you to that honourable title, which at this present you bear) and so not fit for the protection of any then yourself: and as a poor friend wishing all happiness and prosperity in all your valiant actions. Which if it please your worship to like and accept, it may procure the proceeding in a more large and ample discourse of an East Indian voyage, lately performed and set forth by one john Hughen of Linschoten, to your further delight. Wherewith craving your favour, & beseeching God to bless your worship, with my good Lady your wife, I most humbly take my leave:  
This 16. of januarie. 1597. Your Worships to command W. Philip.   

To the Bailiffs, Burghemaisters, & Counsel of the Town of Middelborgh in Zeelande.  
IT may well be thought (Right worshipful) as many learned men are of opinion, that the actions and adventures of the ancients long since done & performed, have been set forth with more show of wonder and strangeness than they in truth deserved: the reason as I think was, because that in those days there were many learned and wise men, who in their writings sought by all means they could to excel each other, touching the description of Countries & nations: And again to the contrary, for want of good Historiographers and writers, many famous acts and travels of divers nations and Countries lie hidden, and in a manner buried under ground, as wholly forgotten and unknown, unless it were such as the Grecians and Romans for their own glories and advantages thought good to declare. But to come to the matter of voyages by sea, it is evident to all the world, what voyage jason with certain young Grecian Princes made to Colchos in the Oriental Countries to win the golden Fleece, as also the travels by Hercules performed into Libya in the West parts, to win the Aurea Mala or golden apples of Hesperides, which notwithstanding neither for length, danger, nor profit, are any thing comparable to the navigations and voyages, that of late within the space of one hundredth years have been performed & made into the East & West Indies, whereby in a manner there is not one haven on the sea coast, nor any point of land in the whole world, but hath in time been sought and found out. I will not at this present dispute or make an argument, whether the Countries and nations of late years found out and discovered, were known to the ancients, but this is most certain, that not any strange work or adventure was, or ever shall be performed, but by the special grace, favour and mighty hand of God, and that such are worthy perpetual memory, as with noble minds have sought to effect, and be the first enterprisers thereof, and with most valiant courages and wisdoms, have performed such long & dangerous voyages into the East and West Indies, as also such Kings and Princes, as with their Princely liberalities have employed their treasures, ships, men and munitions to the furtherance and performance of so worthy acts, which notwithstanding in the end turned to their great advancements and enriching with great treasures, which by those means they have drawn, & caused in great abundance to be brought from thence, in such manner, that the King of Spain now living, (having both the Indies in his possession, & reaping the abundant treasures which yearly are brought out of those countries) hath not only (although covertly) sought all the means he could to bring all Christendom under his dominion, but also (that which no King or country whatsoever although of greater might than he hath ever done) he is not ashamed to use this posy, Necspe, nec metu. And although the first founders and discoverers of those Countries have always sought to hinder and intercept other nations from having any part of their glory, yet hereby all nations, & indifferent persons may well know and perceive the special policy, and valour of these united Provinces, in traveling into both the Indies, in the faces, & to the great grief of their many and mighty enemies. Whereby it is to be hoped, that if they continue in their enterprises begun, they will not only draw the most part of the Indian treasures into these Countries, but thereby disinherit & spoil the Country of Spain of her principal revenues, and treasures of merchandises and trafiques, which she continually useth and receiveth out of these countries, and out of Spain are sent into the Indies, and so put the King of Spain himself in mind of his foolish devise which he useth for a posy touching the new world, which is, Non sufficit orbis, like a second Alexander magnus, desiring to rule over all the world, as it is manifestly known. And because this description is fallen into my hands, wherein is contained the first voyage of the Low-countrieses men into the East Indies, with the adventures happened unto them, set down and justified by such as were present in the voyage, I thought it good to put it in print, with many pictures and cards, whereby the reader may the easilier perceive and discern, the natures, apparels, and fashions of those Countries and people, as also the manner of their ships, together with the fruitfulness and great abundance of the same, hoping that this my labour will not only be acceptable unto all Merchants and Sailors, which hereafter mean to traffic into those Countries, but also pleasant and profitable to all such as are desirous to look into so new and strange things, which never heretofore were known unto our nation. And again for that all histories have their particular commodity, (specially such as are collected and gathered together) not by common report, from the first, second, or third man, but by such as have seen and been present in the actions, and that are living to justify and verify the same: And although eloquence and words well placed in showing a history, are great ornaments and beautifyings to the same, yet such reports & declarations are much more worthy credit, & commendabler for the benefit of the commonwealth, which are not set down or deciphered by subtle eloquence, but shown and performed by simple plain men, such as by copiousness of words, or subtlety do not alter or change the matter from the truth thereof, which at this day is a common and notorious fault in many Historiographers: And thinking with myself to whom I were best to dedicate the same, I found it not fit for any then for the right worshipful Governors of this famous Town of Middelborgh, wherein for the space of 19 years I have peaceably continued, specially because your worships do not only deal with great store of shipping, and matter belonging to navigation, but are also well pleased to hear, and great furtherers to advance both shipping and traffics, wherein consisteth not only the welfare of all merchants, inhabitants, and citizens of this famous City, but also of all the common wealth of the united Provinces, hoping your worships will not only accept this my labour, but protect & warrantise the same against all men: Wherewith I beseech God to bless you with wisdom, and godly policy, to govern the Common wealth: Middleborgh this 19 of October. 1597.  
Your worship's servant to command Bernardt Langhenez.   
A brief description of a voyage performed by certain Hollanders to & from the East INDIES, with their adventures and success.  

THe ancient Historiographers and discribers of the world have much commended, and at large with great praise set down the divers and several voyages of many noble & valiant Captains (as of Alexander Magnus, Seleucus, Antiochus, Patrocles, Onesecritus) into the East Indies, which notwithstanding have not set down a great part of those coontries', as not being as then discovered, whereby it is thought and judged by some men, that India is the full third part of all the world, because of the great Provinces, mighty Cities, famous and Islands (full of costly merchandises, and treasures from thence brought into all parts of the world) that are therein: Wherein the ancient writers were very curious, and yet not so much as men in our age: They had some knowledge thereof, but altogether uncertain, but we at this day are fully certified therein, both touching the countries, towns, streams and havens, with the trafiques therein used and frequented, whereby all the world, so far distant and separated from those strange nations, are by trade of merchandises united thereunto, & thereby commonly known unto them: The Portugal's first began to enterprise the voyage, who by art of navigation (in our time much more experienced & greater then in times past, and therefore easilier performed) discovered those wild Countries of India, therein procuring great honour to their King, making his name famous, and bringing a special and great profit of all kinds of spices into their Country, which thereby is spread throughout all the world, yet that sufficed not, for that the Englishmen (not inferior to any nation in the world for art of navigation) have likewise undertaken the Indian voyage, and by their said voyages into those Countries, made the same commonly known unto their Country, wherein Sir France's Drake, and M. Candish are chief to be commended, who not only sailed into the East Indies, but also round about the world, with most prosperous voyages, by which their voyages, ours have been furthered and set forward, for that the condition of the Indies is, that the more it is sailed into, the more it is discovered, by such as sail the same, so strange a Country it is: So that besides the famous voyages of the Country's aforesaid, in the end certain people came into Holland (a nation well known) certifying them, that they might easily prepare certain ships to sail into the East Indies, there to traffic & buy spices, etc. By sailing strait from Holland and also from other countries bordering about it, with desire to see strange and rich wares of other Countries, & that should not be brought unto them by strangers, but by their own country men, which some men would esteem to be impossible, considering the long voyage and the dangers thereof, together with the unaccustomed sailings and little knowledge thereof by such as never sailed that way, and rather esteem it madness, than any point of wisdom, and folly rather than good consideration. But notwithstanding we have seen four ships make that voyage, who after many dangers having performed their voyage, returned again and have brought with them those wares, that would never have been thought could have been brought into these countries by any Holland ships; but what should I herein most commend either the willingness and good performance of the parties, or the happiness of their voyage? whereof that I may give the reader some knowledge, I will show what I have heard and been informed of, concerning the description of the Countries, customs, and manners of the nations, by them in this voyage seen & discovered, which is as followeth.  

When and how the ships set sail.  In the year of our Lord 1595. upon the 10. day of the month of March, there departed from Amsterdam three ships and a Pinnace to sail into the East Indies, set forth by divers rich Merchants: The first called Mauritius, of the burden of 400. tons, having in her six demie canon, fourteen Culverins, and other pieces, & 4. pieces to shoot stones, & 84. men: the Master john Molevate, the Factor Cornelius Houtman: The second named Hollandia, of the burden of 400. tons, having 85. men, seven brass pieces, twelve pieces for stones, and 13. iron pieces, the Master john Dignums, the Factor Gerrit van Buiningen, the third called Amsterdam, of the burden of 200. tuns, wherein were 59 men, six brass pieces, ten iron pieces, and six pieces for stones, the Master john jacobson Schellinger, the Factor Reginer van hell: The fourth being a Pinnace called the Dove, of the burden of 50. tons, with twenty men, the Master Simon Lambertson: Which 4. ships upon the 21. of the same month came unto the Tassel, where they stayed for the space of 12. days to take in their lading, and the second of April following, they set sail with a North east wind & following on their course the fourth of the same month they passed the heads; The sixth they saw Heyssant, the 10. of April they passed by the Barles of Disbon: With an East and North East wind, the 17. of April they discovered two of the Islands of Canaries: The 19 Palm, and Picinino, Los Romeros, and Fero: The 25. of April they saw Bona visita, the 16. they anchored under Isole de May: The 27. they set sail again and held their course South Southeast. The 4. of May, we espied two of the King of Spain's ships, that came from Lisbon, and went for the East Indies, about 1000 or 1200. tons each ship, with whom we spoke, and told them that we were bound for the straits of Magellanes, but being better of sail than they, we got presently out of their sight. The 12. of May being under five degrees on this side the Equinoctial line, we espied five ships laden with Sugar, coming from the Island of S. Thomas, and sailed for Lisbon, to whom we gave certain letters, which were safely delivered in Holland. Departing from them and keeping on our course, upon the fourth of june we passed the Equinoctial line, where the extreme heat of the air spoiled all our victuals: 
Their victuals stunk and spoiled.  Our flesh and fish stunk, our Biscuit moulded, our Beer soured, our water stunk, and our Butter became as thin as Oil, whereby divers of our men fell sick, and many of them died; but after that we learned what meat and drink we should carry with us that would keep good. 
They passed the sands of Brasilia.  The 28. of june we passed the sands of Brasill, by the Portugal's called Abrolhos, which are certain places which men must look warily unto, otherwise they are very dangerous.   map of Africa 
AFRICA.  
These sands lie under 18. degrees, and you must pass between the coast of Guine and the sands aforesaid, not going too near either of them, otherwise close by the Coast there are great calms, thunders, rains & lightnings, with great storms, hard by the sands men are in danger to be cast away: and so sailing on their course, first East South east, than East and East and by North. Upon the second of july we passed Tropicus Cancri, under 23. degrees, and ½. The 13. of the same Month, we espied many black birds. 
Tokens of the Cape de bona Sperance.  The 19 great numbers of white birds, and the 20. a bird as big as a Swan, whereof four or five together is a good sign of being near the Cape de bona Sperance. These birds are always about the said Cape, and are good signs of being before it.  

They entered into Agne Sambras  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 haven called Agne Sambras, where we anchored, and found good depth at 8. or 9 fathom water, sandy ground.  
The 5. day we went on shore to gather fruit, therewith to refresh our sick men, that were thirty or 33. in one ship. In this bay lieth a small Island, wherein are many birds called Pyncuius and sea Wolves that are taken with men's hands: we went into the country and spoke with the inhabitants, who brought divers fresh victuals aboard our ships, for a knife or small piece of Iron, etc. giving us an Ox, or a sheep etc. The sheep in those Countries have great tails, and are fat and delicate. Their Oxen are indifferent good, having lumps of flesh upon their backs, that are as fat as any of our good brisket beef: the inhabitants are of small stature, well jointed and boned, they go naked, covering their members with Foxes and other beasts tails: they seem cruel, yet with us they used all kind of friendship, but are very beastly and stinking, in such sort, that you may smell them in the wind at the least a fathom from you: They are appareled with beasts skins made fast about their necks: some of them, being of the better sort, had their mantles cut & raised checkerwise, which is a great ornament with them: They eat raw flesh, as it is new killed, and the entrails of beasts without washing or making clean, gnawing it like dogs, under their feet they tie pieces of beasts skins, in steed of shoes, that they may travel in the hard ways: We could not see their habitations, for we saw no houses they had, neither could we understand them, for they speak very strangely, much like the children in our Country with their pipes, and clocking like Turkey Cocks: At the first we saw about thirty of them, with weapons like pikes, with broad heads of Iron, about their arms they ware rings of Elpen bones: There we could find neither Oranges nor Lemons, which we purposely sought for.   map of St Lawrence [i.e. Madagascar] 
I.S. Laurentij.  

With what wind they sailed to S. Laurence.  The 11. of August we hoist anchor, sailing towards the Island of S. Laurence, and the 22. of the same Month we had a contrary wind that blue North east: The 25. a West wind, and so held our course East North east: The 28. there blue a south east wind, & the 30. a south west wind, and our course lay North North east to sail to the Isle of S. Laurence. The first of September we discovered the point of the Island of S. Laurence. under 16. degrees, and the third day we saw the Island being very desirous to go on land, for that many of our men were sick, whereby we could hardly rule our ships, or bring them farther without healing, or refreshing of our men. 
They had great store of fish for 2 or 3. knives  The 9 of September john Schellinger sent out his boat to row to land, where they found three Fishermen, of whom for two or three knives they had great store of fishes. The 13. we entered into a small Bay, but because we found no good anchor ground, as also being very foul we sailed out again. The 14. we sailed under a small Island about a mile or 2. great, by the Hollanders called their Church yard, or the dead Island, because many sailors dying in that place, were buried in the African earth, and the 29. of the same Month died john Dignumsz Master of the Lion of Holland, and was buried the next day after.  
There john Peter's of Delft Sailor of the Hollandia, & Koelken van Maidenblick of the Amsterdam were set on shore upon the Island of S. Laurence, where they were left, because they had committed certain notorious crimes.  
Mean time the Pinnace was sent out to look for fresh water, which having found, the boat returned to bring us news, and therewith the fleet sailed thither, and the 10. of October the ships anchored before the River, and went on shore, where we found good provision of all necessaries, the inhabitants being very willing thereunto, bringing us of all things that we needed, where for a Pewter Spoon we had an Ox, or three sheep. 
How the wild men, assailed them, and forced them to ensconce themselves.  The 11. of October we went on shore with a boatfull of sick men, and the next day we were assailed by a company of wild men, against whom our weapons little prevailed, for they hurt one of our men, and took all that we had from us, whereby upon the thirteenth of the same Month, we were forced to insconse ourselves with pieces of wood, and branches of trees, making Cabins within our Sconce, for that the 15. of October they came again, but then we took one, and slew another of them. The 19 of November our Pilot Claes janson was entrapped and murdered by the wild people, although we used all the means we could to help him, but they feared no weapons, about ten or twelve days after we took one of them that paid for his death. The first of December our men having for the most part recovered their healths, were all carried aboard the ships: 
The manner & custom of the wild people.  in that part of Madagascar the people are of good condition, and go naked, only with a Cotton cloth before their privy members, and some from their breasts downward: Their ornaments are Copper rings about their arms, but Tin rings are more esteemed with them, and therefore Tin with them is good Merchandise. Their Oxen have great lumps of fat upon their backs: Their sheeps tails way at the least twelve pound, being of an elle long, & two and twenty inches thick. They gave us six of those sheep for a tin Spoon: They dwell in cottages and live very poorly: they fear the noise of a piece, for with one Caliver you shall make an hundred of them run away: We could not perceive any religion they had, but after we were informed that they held the law of Mahomet, for the two boys that we took from of the land, showed us their circumcision: There we found no fruit of Tambaxiumes, but great numbers of Parrots, Medicats, and Turtle Doves, whereof we killed and eat many. The second of December we burned our Sconce, and fourteen of our men going further into the Island, brought certain of the countrymen prisoners, and being aboard our ships taught them what they should do. The thirteenth of December we hoist anchor, minding to hold on our course for the Islands of java, & for that by reason of the pleasantness of the air we had in a manner all recovered our healths, we set our course East and by North, and East north-east. The nineteenth of the same Month we were separated by foul weather, & the 22. with great joy we met again. The tenth of januarie Vechter Willemson died, being a very honest man, and Pilot in Molenaers' ship, for whom we were much grieved, and the same day we determined to put back again for the Island of S. Laurence, for as then we began again to have a great scouring among our men, and many of them fell sick: 
The wild men brought things aboard to comfort them.  But presently thereupon we espied the Island of Saint Mary, and the next day being arrived there, some of the inhabitants came aboard out ships with a basket of Rice, Sugar canes, Citrons, Lemons, & Hens, whereof we were very glad, as being physic for us.  
The 13. 14. 15. 16. and 17. days we were on land, where we bought rice, Hens, Sugarcanes, Citrons, and Lemons in great abundance, and other kind of fruits to us unknown, also good fish, and green Ginger: There we took a Fish, which thirteen men could hardly pull into our ship, and because the Island was little, and we had many men, we entered into the Bay of the firm land with our Pinnace, where for a string of Beads of small value we had a tun of rice: 
The description of one of their kings.  The King came aboard our Pinnace to see it, & was as black as a Devil, with two horns made fast upon his head, and all his body naked like the rest of the country people.  
This Island lieth about a small mile from Madagascar, about 19 degrees Southward from the Equinoctial line (Madagascar or S. Laurence is an Island belonging to the Country of Africa, and lieth southward under 26. degrees, ending Northward under 11. degrees by the inhabitants it is called Madagascar, & by the Portugal's the Island of S. Laurence, because it was discovered on S. Laurence day: The riches of this Island is great, it aboundeth in Rice, Honey, Wax, Cotton, Lemons, Cloves etc. The inhabitants are black and go naked, but the hair upon their heads is not so much curled as those of the Mosambique, & they are not full so black).  

The wild people came on board their ships and seemed very friendy.  The 23. of january we anchored before a River where likewise we had all kind of necessaries, and after that we went to lie under a small Island within the same Bay.  
The 25. of januarie there came some of the wild people aboard our ships, making signs to have us go on land, which we did, and there we had good rice & other fruits in great abundance: on the left side of the entry of the River lieth one of their Towns, and on the right hand two towns, where we had most of our traffic. The 26. of januarie we had interpreters, whom we made to drink wine, wherewith they were as drunk as beasts.   

The manner & condition of the people inhabiting in the great Bay of Antogil, on this side the Equinoctial line under 16. degrees, on the South side of the Island Madagascar.  
IT is a very great Bay, about ten mile broad, behind it lieth a high Island, and three small Islands: there is good harbour against all winds. The Island is inhabited, and therein groweth all kinds of fruits, it hath a great fall of water that cometh down out of the hills, where we laded all our water, and half a mile from thence within the land, there runneth a great River, wherein likewise there is much water to be had, when you enter into the River about a quarter of a mile inward on the left hand, there is a small town or village, not closed nor fortified, in it there is about 200. houses, & on the right hand where the River divideth itself, there is two other such Towns: They were all compassed with palles, and the houses were placed about two foot above the ground, upon four or five palles or stakes of wood, and all the upper parts of reed and straw. 
Why their houses stand so high above the earth.  The cause why their houses are made so high from the ground, is to avoid the danger of venomous beasts that are there in great abundance, as Serpents, Snakes, Chameleons, and other kinds of beasts. 
The manner of the wild men in that country.  The people are very black, but their hair and beards are not so much curled as the right Moors, nor their noses nor lips so great nor flat. They are subtle and strong people, much addicted to drinking, for they will be as drunk as Swine, with a kind of drink made of Honey & rice. They go naked, only that about their midles they wear a cloth made of the bark of a tree, drawn in small threads: they make and use very fine Mats to sit upon: They have no great store of weapons, for that half of them are unprovided, and that they use is a spear of nine or ten foot long, with a great wooden Target: They are very fearful of our Calivers, for 5. or six men with Calivers will cause great numbers of them to fly away: We taught them what our Pieces meant, for we perceived that they knew them not, before they had proved them: at the first they thought they could carry no further than their own lengths, for they knew not what they were: Their kings ornaments were ten or twelve Copper Rings about his arms: if we had had such Rings with us, we might have sold them at what prices we would. They likewise use beads of Glass, which they wear about their arms and necks, by them esteemed for great ornaments: for a box of beads of small value, we had an Ox, or three or four Sheep, round about this Bay are towns and villages, where you may have of all things to refresh yourselves, Lemons and Citrons are there greater and better then in Portugal: Likewise Oranges, rice, Hens, Goats, Honey, and many other sorts of fruits, and to conclude it is the best Bay in all the world to refresh ships. Being on land we were well entertained, and must of force drink with them of their drink made of honey and rice: There we trafiqued with them, and had sufficient of every thing, but every night we went aboard our ships.  
The third of February we had so great a storm, that most of our anchors were lost, and we ran upon the land in great danger to cast our ships away, but God holp us, for the storm ceased, and then we went to hoist up our lost anchors, and so again went to anchor under the Island, glad that we had so well escaped that danger. The fift of February we went to seek for our boats, but the wild men had smitten them in pieces, & taken out the nails, thinking likewise that our ships would have been cast away upon the shore, which they still expected: and when we came thither, they stood upon the shore with their weapons in hand and threw stones at us, and we perceiving them in that mind, made towards our ships, for we desired not to revenge ourselves, nor once to fight with them without commission from our General, whom we certified thereof. The eight of February we rowed into the River to buy cattle, and other things, but they were become our enemies, threatening and casting stones at us, whereupon we put out two shalops to run a shore close to the land, and made our Calivers and other weapons ready.   map of Sumatra 
SUMATRA INSULA  
The 12. of February we hoist anchor, and set sail out of the great Bay of Antongil, being well provided of all necessaries, we put out with a North wind, the Bay stretching North-east and south-west: The 2. of March we had a West wind, our course being East and East & by North towards java. In March and April about the Island of Brandawe, we found that our Compasses held two Strikes to far Northward, and we could not perceive the sands that are set down in the Portugal's sea Cards, but we saw many turnings of streams, and we were much troubled with calms, but with the new Moon we had wind enough out of the West & North west. The 27. of May we found the water aboard our ships to be much lessened, and therefore every man's portion was but half as much as he was wont to have; so that each man was allowed but four draughts every day, which was but a small quantity. Whereby through the extreme heat we endured great thirst, so that at that time a draft of water aboard our ship was worth a Rial of 8. The first of july we saw the Island of Emgano, whereat we much rejoiced, because of the great thirst we endured in our ship, and when we made nearer to it, we perceived it to be an Island lying before the straights of Sonda, under 9 degrees on the south side of the line. The sixth of july we put somewhat nearer to the land, and there we saw six or seven canes lying under the shore, but far off, and durst not make toward us: in the end we manned out a shalop & rowed to land, but they made from us, & when our men were hard by the shore, there we saw about 40. or 50. of them standing upon the shore with their bows; wherewith our men durst not land, for they seemed to be a cruel kind of people, and altogether wild, for they went all naked, not having any thing before their privy members. They were of a reddish colour, but when our men saw no advantage they turned again unto their ships.  
The seventh of july we saw the point of the land of Sumatra, which is a very high land descending downward with a long end.  
The 11. of the same Month we were close under the land, where there lay an Island, and there we anchored.  
The 12. of july in the morning we saw certain ships, whereof one came unto us, we rowed unto it with a shalop, and spoke with it, but we could not understand them, but they showed us where we should have water, which made us glad, that we might once again have our bellies full of water: it being almost four Months that we had not seen any land, nor taken in any fresh victuals. We sent our Pinnace to the firm land of Sumatra, there to seek for some relief: for that where we lay there dwelled not any man. 
The manner of the Governor of Sumatras coming on board.  The 13. of july the Captain or principal ruler of Sumatra came aboard our ships to see them, which was done with great solemnity, he being appareled after the Turkish manner, with a wreath about his head, and a fearful countenance, small eyes, great eye brows, and little beard, for a man might tell all the hairs upon his chin: he brought us a present of Betele, which are leaves which they continually chaw, and eat it with chalk.  
This Island of Sumatra or Taprobana (as it is said) is the greatest of all the Oriental Islands, it is divided from the firm land of Malacca by a strait and dangerous sea, by reason of many Islands and cliffs that are within it: Out of this Island as some men are of opinion, Solomon had his Gold wherewith he beautified the Temple, and his own palace, and then in the Bible it should be named Orphir, for certainly Sumatra is rich of mines of Gold, Silver and metal, and the inhabitants thereof are very expert in melting of brass pieces: Therein is a fountain of pure Balsam, the Portugal's have no fortress therein, yet they traffic in certain havens, specially in Pedir and Campar: There is also in this Island a place called Manancabo, where they make poinyardes and daggers, by them called cryse, which are much esteemed in those Countries, and those of Malacca and java, hold them for their best weapons, and with them are very bold.  
The same day our Pinnace returned again unto us, bringing us good news, that we were welcome unto the Country people, and brought us certain Indian Nuts, or Cocus, Melons, Cocombers, Onions, Garlic, and a sample of Pepper and other spices, which liked us well.  
The fourteenth of june we laded in some fresh water.   map of Java 
JAVA MAYOR  
The 15. of june there rowed a scute called a Prawen hard under the land by us, we called him, but not against his will, and showed him silver, and other wares that liked him well, he bade us make towards the strand, and told us of Bantam, saying that there we should have all kinds of Merchandise. Then we made signs unto him that if he would bring us to Bantam, we would pay him for his labour, he asked us 5. rialles of 8. and a red cap, which we granted unto, and so one of the men in the scute came on board the Mauritius, and was our Pilot to Bantam, where we passed by many Islands.  
The nineteenth of july as we sailed by a town, many Portugal's boarded us, and brought us certain Cocus and Hens to sell, which we bought for other wares.  
The 22. of the same Month we came before the town of Bantam, within three miles of it, and there anchored under an Island. The same day about evening a scute of Portugeses boarded us that were sent by the Governor to see what ships we were, & when we showed them that we came thither to traffic with them, they told us, that there was the right Pepper country, & that there we might have our lading, that new Pepper was ready to be gathered, and would be ripe within two Months after, which pleased us well, for we had already been fifteen Months and twelve days upon our voyage, having endured great dangers, miseries and thirst, many of our men by sickness being dead.  
The 23. of june we hoist our anchors, and went close to the town of Bantam, and anchored hard by 4. small Islands, that lie right North from the Town: the same day the Sabandar (who is there one of the greatest officers next the King) came aboard our ships, ask us what we would have, we said we were come to buy Pepper and other spices, and that we had ready money, and certain wares, whereof we showed him some part, which he liked well, saying that there we might have lading enough, showing us great countenance.  
The same day likewise there came a great number of scutes unto our ships, bringing all kinds of victuals to sell, as Hens, Eggs, Cocus, Bonanas, sugar canes, Cakes of rice baked, and many other things. The 24. of june there came many men aboard our ships, bringing divers wares to sell, showing us great friendship, and as it seemed were very glad of our arrival there, telling us that there we might have Pepper enough, and new Pepper within two Months after, and that Pepper was then as good cheap as it had been any time within ten years before, that we might buy 5. or 6. sacks for one Cattis, (being about 20. Guilderns) which was ordinarily sold but one sack for that price: every sack weigheth 54. pound Hollandes' weight, so that a pound would be worth about a brass penny Holland's money. The same day about noon the Sabandar boarded us once again, willing Cornelis Houtman to go on land to speak with the Governor, for as then there was no King, for about a Month before our arrival there, the King was gone with a great army before the town of Palimbam, which he thought to take, and had almost gotten it, but there he was stricken with a great Piece by a Renigado of the Portugal's, and so was slain. His death was much lamented by the strangers that dwelled at Bantam, for he was a good king, being about 25. years of age: he left behind him four wives, whereof the eldest was not above 15. years of age, and a young son of three Months old, that was to succeed him in his Kingdom, and they had chosen a Protector or Governor to rule in his minority, whom they call Kipate, and when the Kipate by the Sabandar sent to our Sergeant Mayor to come unto him into the town, he made him answer that he had no such commission, but he desired the Governor first to come aboard his ship, and then he would go on shore, he likewise desired us to go nearer to the town with our ships.   

 depiction of Bantam, Java  
THe Town of Bantam in the Island of java, as our four ships lay before it A. is the bar of the River that was shut up, by it all wares passed both in and out, and the next house unto it is the custom house. B. the Hollanders lodging where we received and sold our wares, C. is the walls of the town of Bantam, all made with flankers, upon them lay great store of brass pieces, which when they shot at us, did not much hurt us, because they knew not well how to use them; & the wall is not above two foot thick made of bricks, and at every place where the pieces lieth, there are places made of masts and other wood, which they use for defence against the enemies. D. are the Portugal's houses, E. the Pepper market, F. the Hollanders market, G. the pomegranate market, H. the apparel market, I. the porseline market, K. the great market, which is also the Burse where many nations do meet, L. the Fish market, M. the hog market, N. the Chinars houses, O. their Church or Mostua, P. a skirmish between our Pinnace and 24. of their boats that came towards us like a half Moon● all full of men, armed with bows and spears, with some bases, making to the Pinnace that lay on ground under an Island, where it wound off, 17. of them being on the larborde, and 7. on the star board of her, so near that they thrust their spears in at her ports, but those of the Pinnace showed themselves like men shooting bravely against them, both with great shot and Calivers for they could hardly shoot in vain, and having hoist sail, she came to the ships again in despite of all her enemies, that were in great numbers, and had compassed her about like sconces.   

And thereupon we sailed somewhat nearer to the Island that lay next unto the town, within half a mile from it, & there we anchored at 4. fathom clay ground, the town lying South from us, where we had a good road: 
The Governor of Bantam came aboard their ships.  The next morning the Governor sent aboard, and the men that came spoke not only good Portugal, but other languages: he let our Sergeant Mayor understand that he would come aboard, and desired that he would with a shalop meet him half the way, which was done about noon, and the Governor came aboard with a great company of men, where we showed him all our wares, which liked him well, desiring us to come on land, saying that we should be welcome, promising us much favour, wherewith he returned to the land with certain rich presents that we gave him. The 26. Barent Heijn Factor of the ship called the Mauritius, died very suddenly.  
The 27. and 28. great numbers of people boarded our ships bringing all sorts of necessaries & victuals to sell.  

The Emperor came aboard and secretly conspired with the Portugeses against them.  The 29. there came an Emperor aboard our ship, whose father in time past had been Emperor of all java, and commanded all the Kings of java, but this man because of his bad life was not much accounted of: he spoke good Portugal, for his mother was a Portugal woman borne in Malacca: This Emperor had conspired against us with the Portugal's, but as then we knew it not.  
The 30. of june Cornelis Houtman took a boat and went into the town, and there spoke with the Governor about certain affairs, touching a contract to be made with him.  

A contract to buy & sell in the town.  The first of july Houtman went again into the town, and when he returned he brought with him a certain contract made & signed by the Governor himself, who most willingly consented thereunto, & said unto him, Go now and buy what you will, you have free liberty; which done, the said Houtman with his men went to see the town, appareled in the best manner they could, in velvet, Satin, and silks, with rapiers by their sides: The Captain had a thing borne over his head to keep him from the Sun, with a Trumpet before him, which certain times he caused to be sounded: There the Emperor bade them to a banquet after the Indian manner: From thence they went to the Portugal's, that made much account of Houtman, and made him a banquet, saying that they had seen him in Lisbon. The 2. of july many Merchants came aboard, proffering us Pepper very good cheap, but because we were unskilful in the weight and other things we took respite to answer them.  
The 3. of july the Sabander came aboard, and he was our great friend, for that after we found it so, he told us what weight the sacks of Pepper were, and what prizes they bore, counseling us to buy.  

The Emperor meant to fall upon the ships to rob them.  The 7. of july the Governor sent us a man secretly by night willing us to look unto ourselves, and not to trust the Emperor, with whom all the Merchants conspired, and went to invade our ships, and that he meant to rob us, as being very licentious and evil minded.  
The 8. of july the Emperor sent unto our ships, & offered to make them a banquet, bidding all the Captains, masters, Pilots, Gentlemen, Officers, Trumpets, and Gunners to come into the town to him, and there he would make merry with them: This was done by the Portugal's advise, thereby to have all the chief and principal men out of our ships, but we perceived their intent.  
The 11. of july the Emperor perceiving that his devise would not take place, he went from Bantam to jacatra.  
The 12. of july we had a house offered us within the town.  
The 13. of the same month Reyner van hell with eight Gentlemen went into the town, taking certain wares with him, of every thing a little, and laid it in the house appointed for the purpose: there to keep a aware house and to sell our merchandise, and presently both Gentlemen and Merchants came thither to buy and to sell us Pepper.  
The 15. and 16. many Gentlemen, Merchants, Chinars, and Arabians came to our warehouse & into our ships, offering us Pepper, but our Factor offered them too little a price.  
The 25. of july the Governor came again aboard our ships, and there looked upon certain of our wares, whereof he bought some, and counseled us to buy Pepper: 
The hatred of the Portugal's against them.  About the same time the Portugal's made great suit unto the Governor, promising him many gifts to deny us traffic, and to constrain us to departed from thence, saying we were no merchants, but that we came to spy the country, for they said that they had seen many Fleminges in Lisbon, but none like us. Among the Portugal's there was one that was borne in Malacca, of the Portugal's race, his name was Pedro Truide, a man well seen in travailing, and one that had been in all places of the world: He was our good friend, & every day came to talk with our Captains, saying, you do not well that you make no more haste to take in your lading, you shall have no better cheap wares, & withal showed us many other things: whereupon the Portugal's hated him, and not long after he was murdered in his bed.  
In August we did little, and took no great store of lading in seeking to have Pepper better cheap, which the Portugal's liked not well of, and said unto the Governor, that we desired not to buy; which the Governor began to hearken unto, for they offered him great sums of money that he should not permit us traffic, so that in the end he commanded that no man should carry any Rice aboard our ships, whereby we were abashed, and thereupon we sent unto the Governor for our money which he ought for the wares he had bought, which moved him. The 26. of july he sent one of our Gentlemen with some of his men and nine slaves aboard our ships.   

The situation of the Town of Bantam, the principal town of traffic in the Island of java, their strength & manner of building, with their traffic, what people come thither, what wares are there most desired, what nations bring them thither, or come to fetch them, together with their religion, customs, & manner of house keeping.  
BAntam lieth in the Island of java maior, about 25. miles to sea ward within the Isle, between Sumatra and java: On both sides of the Town there runneth a River, about 3. foot and a half deep, so tha● no ships can enter into them: The Town is compassed about with a River: The town is almost as great in compass as the old town of Amsterdam: The walls are made with flankers: They have great numbers of Pieces therein, but they know not how to use them, for they fear them much: all their Pieces are of brass, & they have many brazen bases. Their walls are not above two foot thick made of bricks: every flanker hath divers masts and pieces of wood, which they use when they are besieged by their enemies. The houses are made of straw and reeds, standing upon 4. wooden posts. The rich have their chambers all hanged with silken Curtains, or else with cotton linen: Their houses are most placed under Cocus trees, whereof the town is full: Without the walls are many houses, wherein strangers for the most part have their dwellings. The town hath three great market places, wherein daily there is markets holden, where you may buy all kinds of wares, and where there cometh a great number of people, very strange to behold: Within the town there is a great church or musk of wood, wherein they observe the law of Mahomet: Gentlemen & men of any quality have their own musks in their houses. The town is not built with streets, nor the houses placed in order, but very foul lying full of filthy water, which men must pass through, or leap over, for they have no bridges: In the town there is great resort of divers Countries and nations, as of Malacca, Bengala, Malabar Guihereters of Pegu, Sani Malicas', Banda, China, and of many Kingdoms that have great traffic for Pepper, that groweth round about Bantam, which in August and September is ripe, there you have Nutmegs, out of the Island of Banda, and Cloves from Moluca, which the Portugal's do most buy up: We bought Nutmegs there for a blank a pound: All victuals and necessaries are there in great abundance to be had, as Hens, Hearts, Fish, and Rice, and divers kinds of fruits, as Auanas, Cocus, Bonanas, Manges, Doroyens, jacca, Pruna, Grapes, Oranges, Lemons, pomegranates, Cocombers, Melons, Onions, Garlic; but bread they have none, but in stead of it they eat Rice: Beef is there the dearest victual, for an Ox in that place is worth 7. 8. or 9 Rialles of 8. The Chinars have the greatest and most traffic in that town. They come thither in the Month of januarie, with 8. or 9 great ships, bringing all sorts of Porseline, silks, Damask, gold thread, Iron pans, and javas' money called Caixas, whereof 12000. make a Ryall of eight: They are hanged upon strings by two hundred together, for the which they both buy & sell all kinds of merchandises, and there they lad Pepper which they carry into China: Without the town they have a great place wherein they commonly use to sell their wares, and there they dwell, and have greater and better houses then any are within the town, all made of reeds, only that in every house they have a square place made of stone, wherein they put their wares to keep them from burning, as some rich men in the town likewise have: The Chinars are very subtle and industrious people, and will refuse no labour nor pains to yearn money, there they make much Aqua vitae of rice and Cocus, and traffic much therewith, which the Javars by night come to buy, and drink it secretly, for by Mahomet's law it is forbidden them. The Chinars live there with free liberty: When they come to remain there for a year or more as they think good, they buy themselves a wife or two, or more as they think good, and live together like man and wife, and when they mean to departed, they sell their wives again, but if they have children they take them with them, & so return to China: They have no special religion, but pray unto the Devil, that he would not hurt them, for they know that the Devil is wicked, and that God is good, and hurteth no man, therefore they think it needless to pray to God. They acknowledge not the resurrection of the dead, but when a man dieth they think he never riseth again: In their houses they have great painted Devils, before the which they place wax candles, and sing unto them, praying them not to hurt them, and the more monstrous that their shapes be, the more they honour them. These people live very hardly and poorly within Bantam, for there is not any work or labour how filthy soever it be, but they will do it to get money, and when they have gotten something they return again to China. They are very like jews in our country, for they never go without a pair of balances, and all things is good wares with them, and are ready to do any service. When we came first before Bantam, they came every day in great companies into our ships, and there set out their wares to sell, as silks, sowing silks, and porselines, so that our upper decks were full of peddlers, that we could hardly walk upon the hatches.   

The manner, condition, custom, going, standing, apparel, housekeeping, wares, and behaviour of the Javars in Bantam.  
THe Javars and inhabitants of Bantam, are proud and obstinate, with a very stately pace, they hold the law of Mahomet, which they have not had above 35. years, for as yet there are many heathens among them that never were made Mores: it is a very lying and thievish kind of people, not in any sort to be trusted. Their apparel both of rich and poor is a cotton cloth, and some of silk about their middles, which they tie about them with a girdle, the upper part and from the knees downward all naked: most of them go bareheaded, but the principallest of them have a wreath or Turkish roll about their heads, and some little caps: Their priests come out of Mecca in Arabia, and are yellow of colour: 
What weapons they wear.  Their weapon is a poniard, which they call Crisis: it is made with hilts, & the handle is a Devil cut out of wood or bone: the sheaths are of wood: with them they are very bold, and it is accounted for a great shame with them if they have not such a Dagger, both young, old, rich & poor, and young children of five or six years old, and when they go to the wars they have targets, and some long spears, but most of them such poinyardes: They use neither great shot nor calivers when they go against their enemies: for a small matter one King will make war against another When we came first before Bantam, we offered to make a contract with the Governor and the counsel of the town, that they should deliver us a certain quantity of Pepper, and we would go with our ships before Palimbam, and help them to revenge the death of their Kings upon their enemies, for (as they said) we might go within a bow shot of the town with our ships, and the Town is but of wood without walls, so that we would presently have beaten it down to the ground. They offered us some of their principal Governors to be left for pledges in our ships, and their men would sail in their fustes, such as should go on land, and we should do nothing else but shoot out of our ships, but our Captains would not do it, considering our small number of men. 
How many wives they have.  The Iauers take as many wives as they will, and are able to maintain; but the common people have but one, & some two married wives, and some 10. 20. & 30. concubines: For a small matter they will send their married wives home again unto their fathers, when they have lain five or six days with them, saying they like them not, and so their marriage is undone, when they desire it.   

The manner, custom, housholding, childbearing, sporting & cleanliness of the women in Bantam.  
THe women of the town are well kept from such as are circumcised, whereof the rich men have many, and from other men or their friends, for their own sons may not come into the house where the women are. They lie all naked and chaw Betelle, and have a slavish woman that continually scratcheth their bodies, that is, such as are married women, but such as are concubines are as waiting Gentlewomen to the married women, when they go out to give them more majesty, and those that have the greatest number are of most estimation: The Concubines have but few children, for the married women poison their children, and these concubines are bought and sold: by their apparel a man can hardly discern the rich from the poor, for they go all with a Cotton cloth about their bodies up to their breasts, and bound about their middles with an other cloth, bare footed and their heads uncovered, their hair bound right upon the top of their heads in a heap, but when they are in their pride, they wear crowns upon their heads, whereof some of them are of pure gold, & rings of gold, & some of silver about their arms, every one according to their ability. They are very curious about their bodies, for they wash themselves at the least five or six times every day: they never ease themselves nor have the company of their husbands, but they presently leap into the water and wash their bodies, and therefore the water that runneth through Bantam is very unwholesome; for every one washeth themselves in it, as well pocky as other people, whereby we lost some of our men that drunk of the water: The women are very idle, for they do nothing all the day but lie down; the poor slaves must do all the drudgery, and the men sit all day upon a mat, & chaw Betele, having ten or twenty women about them, and when they make water, presently one of the women washeth their member, and so they sit playing all the day with their women: Many of them have slaves that play upon instruments much like our Shakebois, they have likewise great basins whereon they strike, & therewith know how to make good music, whereat the women dance, not leaping much, but winding and drawing their bodies, arms and shoulders, which they use all night long, so that in the night time they make a great noise with basins and other instruments, and the man he sitteth and looketh upon them, every one of the women striving to do her best that she may get her husband's favour and her secret pleasure. The Gentlemen, Citizens, and merchants have their Gardens, and fields without the town, and slaves for the purpose to labour in them, and bring their masters all kinds of fruit, Rice and Hens in the town, 
How Pepper groweth in that country.  as also the Pepper that groweth there, which runneth up by an other tree, as Hops with us, and groweth in long bunches like Grapes, so that there is at the least 200. grains in one bunch: it is first green, and after it becometh black, and is there in great abundance, so that it is the right Pepper country; for when we came thither they said unto us, Aqui ai tanta Pimienta, como terra, that is, here is as much Pepper as earth, and so we found it, and yet we departed from thence by our own follies, without our lading of Pepper: We staid for new Pepper, mean time the Portugal's scent their letters into every place seeking to hinder our trade: At the first we might have sufficient, for there we found enough both to buy for money or to barter. We likewise had money and wares sufficient: we might easily have had six or eight hundred tons, as we were advertised by some of the country, that we should presently buy, for that the Portugal's sought all the means they could to hinder us, as after it appeared; and therefore he that thinketh to come soon enough, cometh oftentimes too late, and we used not our time so well as it fell out.  

A letter sent by our men in the town that were kept prisoners.  The 29. of August we had a letter sent us by night from our men that were in the town, that lay in a manner as prisoners, to will us to let our pledge go a shore, otherwise they feared they should hardly escape with their lives, and great danger might fall upon them: this pledge came aboard with the 9 slaves.  
The 30. of August we sent the pledge and the rest of our Iauers to land, with promise that he would do the best he might to get our men leave to come aboard: about evening of the same day we had news from our men by four of our sailors that as then they were better used, saying they thought they should come aboard when two ships were gone that meant to sail for Malacca, being laden with Nutmegs and other things.  
The first of of September, and the 2. 3. and 4. we sent many letters to the Governor and he to us, and likewise to our men that were in the town, being nine in number, all our best merchants and captains, having with them about 6. or 7000. Guildernes in merchandise, and they again to us.  

They went nearer to the town.  The 5. of September when we perceived that delays were dangerous, we went close to the town with all our 4. ships, and so near that we had but two fathom muddy ground, and presently with two of our boats for our security we set upon three javan ships, whereof two were laden with fish and Cocus, wherein we found a man of China, being of some account. The third ship was laden with 20. tons of Cloves, 6. tons of Pepper, and some Benioni, and Piementa da Ravo, wherein we found five Malabardes' slaves to the Portugal's, whom we likewise took, & they were very willing to go with us, thereby to be eased of the slavery whereunto the Portugeses put them, and perceiving that the Portugal's went often to and from another ship that lay not far from us, we took our Pinnace and made towards it, and being hard by it, the Portugeses left it & set it on fire: This ship had the richest wares in it as the Portugal's slaves told us, for it was laden with fifty tons of Cloves, which were burnt in it.  
The sixth and seventh of September we heard no news, so that we went close to the Town again, shooting with our great Pieces into it, slaying divers of the people (as after we were informed:) They likewise shot with their Pieces against us, which the Portugal's did, for that the Javars have little or no skill at all therein, and are very fearful of them, and although they had many pieces in the town, yet they did us no other hurt then only shot one of Molenares half masts in pieces.  

A skirmish between the Pinnace & 24. boats  The seventh of September we had a skirmish, which was in this manner, we perceiving a javan ship under sail, sent our Pinnace with six and twenty men in her to fetch it in, which the javan ship perceiving fled behind an Island, where our Pinnace followed him so fast that she fell a ground, which the towns men perceiving, made them ready with four and twenty boats full of men, all armed after their manner, and set forward in good order, being divided in two companies, seven on star board, & 17. on lardde board of the Pinnace, in order like a half Moon, threatening us with their spears, they thought by reason of their great number of men, that they had already taken it, but it fell out otherwise, for they in the Pinnace perceiving them coming, shot among them, and they were so near unto her that we could not shoot at them: and when they were hard by the Pinnace, she got a float, as they thought to take her, having cast out an anchor in good time, and thereby wound themselves off the ground, but for haste they were forced to cut their Cable, because they had not time enough to wind it up, and with all they shot one of their boats under water. The Pinnace drawing her boat after her, the javans presently leapt into it, and cut a sunder the rope that held it, which they immediately stole from us, thrusting with their Spears in at the loop holes. Seven of their Boats being round about us were so sharply paid with the iron pieces, stone pieces, and Calivers, that the 17, others durst not come so near us: I think there were at the least 100 of them that never carried news how they sped in that skirmish, for every boat had at the least 60. men in it, and they were so thick in them, that they could not help themselves, nor did any thing else but shake their spears, and they shot but one base: their arrows hurt us not, and so the Pinnace returned again unto our ships, sailing close before the town, and shooting into it with her ordinance: They shot out of the town, but it hit her not, because they shot with stone pellets, wherewith you cannot shoot so certainly as with iron bullets.  
The 8. 9 and 10. of September we had letters from our men out of Bantam, by the which they willed us not to shoot any more, for that the Governor threatened to set them upon stakes: Houtman wrote they were in good hope that they should be put to ransom, which we counseled them to do as well as they might.  

The contents of the governors letter.  The 11. of September we had a letter from Houtman, and one from the Governor, wherein he wrote that he would set our men at liberty, so we would be quiet, but if we desired war, he would once again come and visit us in another sort: we answered him that there he should find us, that words were but wind, & that he should set our men at a reasonable ransom, and thereof send us an answer the next day.  
The 12. and 13. of September we had no answer out of the town, and we had want of water, and could get none thereabouts but that which came out of the town, for that the Governor had taken order that we should get no water about the town, so that we hoist anchors to go seek some.  
The 17. of September we came before 3. or 4. Islands which Molenare and Shellenger sailed between, and for that the stream ran so strong there, they were forced to go so nigh the shore, that they might almost leap on land, whereby they escaped great danger, but the other ship and the Pinnace sailed about the Islands, and so met with the other two, and casting forth their anchors went on shore, where we spoke with men that said they would show us where we should have water, so we would give them two Calivers.  
The 18. 19 20. 23. and 24. we stayed to lad water, for it was hard to get, and we were forced to keep good watch, which done hoisting anchors again, we sailed towards Bantam, holding our course Eastward.  
The 27. we sailed North-east towards the land of java maior.  
The 28. setting sail again, we kept East north-east along by the coast of java, & about noon because of the great stream that runneth in the strait, we were forced to anchor, and the 30. day we set sail again.  
The first of October in the evening we came to a great Island, being three miles from the town, and there we anchored finding good clay ground.  
The 2. of October we had a letter from our men, how they were separated one from the other, and kept by the Gentlemen of the town, and their wares parted among them.  
The 3. 4. and 5. when we were again before the town, we had other letters, that by our coming they were better used, and hoped to be set at a reasonable ransom, and that they promised that one of our men should come aboard, so he would return again into town, that should by word of mouth certify us what hope they were in, and the cause thereof, that we might the better believe it.  

How the jaurs used our men being prisoners.  The 6. of October in the night one of our men came aboard, and showed us what had passed, when we shot into the town, how they were separated and kept close prisoners, and cruelly threatened by the Iauers, whereby they still expected when they should be put to death, and how they sought all the means they could to make them to deny their faith, and become Mores, but they remained constant, and said they would rather die, and that they had by force shaven three of our men after the Morish manner, and how the Portugeses had sought all the means they could to buy them for slaves, offering money for them that they might send them to Malacca, how they were set at liberty again, & might go where they would within the town, and so they hoped all would be well, and that they should be set at liberty for some small ransom, and that the Governor asked them 3000. Rialles of 8. but they hoped to bring him to 2000 whereat we much rejoiced.  
The 8. 9 and 10. of October we passed over to make some agreement with them that we might be quiet.  
The 11. of October they agreed upon a ransom of 2000 Rials of eight, and were content, that what goods soever we had taken from them, we should keep as our own, and for our goods that they had stolen, and forcibly taken from our men within the town, 
The manner of their ransom.  they would keep them, and so exchange one for the other, they likewise were content to quit us of all our debts, that we ought within the town either to the Governor or to any other man, and that from thence forward we should be free, and traffic in the town, both to buy and sell when it pleased us, & with their good wills as we had done, and before we paid our money, the town was to send two men aboard our ships, which done, we were to pay the half of our ransom, and upon the payment thereof, they should set half of our men at liberty, and that half of our men being come aboard, we were to pay the other half of our ransom, which was 1000 Rials of eight; which being performed, their two men, and their other half of our men were on both sides to be delivered and set free, and without contradiction it was performed.  
The 12. and 13. this agreement being ended, divers victuailers came aboard our ships to sell us Hens, Eggs, and all other kind of victuals.  
The 14. we gave certain presents in sign of good will, to such as had showed us favour when we were in contention with them.  
The 15. 16. 17. and 18. some of our Factors went into the town, where they bought certain Pepper, & brought it aboard our ships.  
The 19 they went again into the town, & bought a greater quantity at 5. sacks for one Cattis, minding in that sort every day to take in our lading, but it fell not out as we desired, for the Portugal's that could not brook our company, made such means to the Governor, that he gave commandment that we should buy no more Pepper, before we had paid 1400. Rialles of 8. which he challenged of us because we had cast anchor within his stream, whereupon our Merchants went and agreed with him, which done we thinking to buy Pepper as we did before, 
Why the Governor forbade us traffic.  the Governor again commanded to the contrary, whereby we perceived their deceit, in that he would not hold his word. The country men would gladly have sold their Pepper, as also the Chinars, Arabians, Mahometitians, and secretly some Portugal's, but when we saw we could not get it out but with great danger, we thought it not convenient to buy: and when we spoke unto the Governor, touching the holding of his word, he made us answer, that he had no bones in his tongue, and that therefore he could speak that which he meant not to do: and to say the truth most part of the Javars are a kind of deceitful people, for whatsoever they say and presently perform, that shall you be sure of and no more.  
The 25. of October there came an Ambassador into Bantam, sent from Malacca to the Governor with a present of 10000 Rials of 8. desiring him to forbid us both his town and stream, that we might not traffic there. Whereof we were advertised by the Sabandar and other of our friends counseling our men to get them out of the town, and not to return again, otherwise they would be in danger to be stayed again, and we having sent a man into the town to save him from being holden prisoner, our host where we lay being on shore was forced to bring him out covered with certain mats; so that upon the 26. of the same month all our traffic and friendship with them ceased: but our host being our friend, came secretly aboard our ships, and showed us that he and his company had two ships lying before the town, laden with Nutmegs and Mace that came from Banda, for the which he agreed with us at a price, upon condition that we should seem to take them by force, that thereby he might colour his dealing with us: whereupon the first of November we sailed close to the town with all our ships, 
How they took two javan ships  and set upon the two javan ships, wherein we found to the number of 30. slaves, that knew nothing of their masters bargain made with us, so that they began to resist us, wherewith we shot among them, and presently slew 4. or 5. of them, the rest leapt over board, and swam to land, which done we took the two ships, and put their lading into ours: 
They fought with a Portugal ship.  The Portugal's ship that brought their Ambassador, lay close under the shore, whereunto we sent two of our boats, but the Portugeses that were in her shot so thick with their pieces upon our men, that our boats were forced to leave them with loss of one of our men, but our ships shot in such sort with their ordinance upon the Portugal ship, that they spoiled and broke it in pieces, wherein their Captain was slain, and the victuailers that still brought us victuals to sell, told us that with our pieces we had slain three or four men within the town, & that the towns men began to make an army of ships to set upon us.  

They fought with a javan ship.  The 2. of November we espied a ship that came toward Bantam, which we joined unto with our boats, and being near unto it, they spread their fights, which were of thick mats, and began to defend themselves; our men shot among them with stone pieces and Calivers, and they defended themselves with great courage, having half pikes wherewith they thrust at us, & that served likewise to blow arrows out of them, for they were like trunks, out of the which trunks they shot so great numbers of arrows, that they fell as thick as hail, and shot so certainly, that therewith they hurt at the least eight or nine of our men, but the arrows are thin and light, so that their blast could not make them enter into the flesh above the thickness of two fingers, only the head of the arrow (which is made of reed, and lose stayeth in the flesh) when we shot with our Calivers they run behind their fights, but when they perceived that their matted fights could not defend them, and that they were killed through them, they entered into their boat, and by strength of oars rowed from us, leaving their ship, wherein we found two dead men, and we slew three more of them as we rowed after their boat, so that in all they lost five men, as we after heard, and that they were to the number of 40. which done, we brought their ship to ours, wherein we found good store of Rice and dried fish.  
The 6. of November, perceiving not any hope of more traffic for us with those of Bantam, we hoist anchor and set sail, setting our course towards the strait of Sunda.  

The merchants follow them with wares.  The seventh of November we came and anchored before a River of fresh water, about six miles from Bantam, where we took in our provision of water: thither certain Merchants followed us with Porseline, telling us that they were sorry for our departure, & that they longed for our return again.  
The thirteenth of November we set sail, and about evening we came before jacatra, in time passed called Sunda Calapa, which hath been a rich Town of merchandise, but upon some occasions, and by reason of their hard usage the Merchants had withdrawn themselves from thence, therefore at this present there is little or nothing to do. john Hughen in his book saith this to be the principal town of traffic, but that is long sithence, for now there is not any trade of merchandise.  
The fourteenth of November we sent two of our men into the town, having some of theirs in pawn, who told us that many of the inhabitants were gone out of the town with all their goods, being in great fear of our pieces, and there we had great store of victuals, and much more than we required brought aboard our ships.  
The 18. we set sail from jacatra, and being about two miles from the town, our ship called Amsterdam fell upon a cliff, but it got off again without any hurt, and therewith we presently made towards the strait.  
The 2. of December we passed by 3. towns which we might easily perceive, we likewise passed by Tubam, and anchored under Sidaya. The 3. of December there came men out of the town, & desired us to stay, saying that there we might have Cloves & Nutmegs as many as we would, bringing certain banqueting stuff (as a present from their King) unto Sche●lengers ship, because it lay nearest to the land, and they came most aboard it.  
The 4. of December they came again into Schellengers' ship, bringing certain presents with them, and among the rest a certain bird that could swallow fire, which is a very strange fowl, and was brought alive to Amsterdam, which after was given to the states of Holland lying in the Hage, and some good fruits, willing us to send a man on shore to see their spices, whereof they said they had great store: whereupon we sent a man out of the Amsterdam, and with him an interpreter, one of the Portugal's slaves, they leaving three or four of their men aboard our ships, for pawns till his return: when our man came to land he was well used, and there they showed him forty or fifty balls of Cloves; which done they brought him before the King, that promised him great favour, and told him that the next day he would himself come aboard our ships, and deal with our Captains, and with that he let our man departed.  
The 5. of December we expected the Kings coming aboard, putting out all our flags and streamers, and about noon there came 8. or 9 indifferent great ships full of men from off the shore, wherein we thought the King to be, but when they were almost at us they divided themselves, three of them rowing to Shellengers' ship, and when they boarded him, they thinking the King had been there, Reymer van Hell as Factor and the Master came forth to receive him, but the Iauers entering all at once, Reymer van Hell said, What will all these people do aboard the ship, for there was at the least two hundred men, who all at one time drew out their poinyardes, and stabbed our men that never suspected them, so that presently they had slain twelve of the ship, and two sore wounded, that boldly withstood them: the rest of our men being under hatches presently took their pikes, and thrust so fast out at the grates, 
How the Indians betrayed them.  that the Iauers would have forced the middle part of the ship, wherein was two entries, but our men standing at them with their sword in hand drove them out, not ceasing still to thrust up with their pikes, mean time they kindled fire, lighted their matches, & shot off their stone pieces that lay above the hatches, wherewith they began presently to fly, most of them leaping over board, and swum to their two boats, that lay hard by our ships, whereof one with a great piece was presently stricken in pieces: The rest of our ships hearing us shoot in that manner, entered into their boats, and made towards them, rowing hard to the three Indian fustes, wherein were at the least 100 men, and shot among them with their pieces, wherewith they leapt into the water, every man swimming to shore, and we with two boats after them, hewing and killing them as our deadly enemies, who under pretence of friendship sought to murder us, and we handled them in such sort, that of two hundred men there got not above thirty of them to land, the rest of their fustes lay far off and beheld the fight: Three of their fustes thought to row to the Pinnace to take her, which they might easily have done, as having not above 7. or 8. men in her, being busy to set up a new mast, but when they perceived their men to be so handled in the Amsterdam, and that they leapt over board, they turned back again, and in great haste rowed to land, so that at that time they got not much by the bargain, and no small grief to us, for there we lost 12. men, that were all stabbed with poinyards, their names were john jacobson Schellenger, master of the ship, Reymer van hell Factor, Gielis Gieleson Gentleman, Barent 
The names of their men that were stabed.  Bonteboter, Arent Cornedrager, Cornelis van Alcmuer, Simon janson, Wiltschut Ioos the Carpenter, Adrian de Metselar, one of the Portugal's slaves, and two boys, whereof one was but twelve years old, whereby we perceived them to be a kind of cruel people, for they had given the little boy and all the rest of our men at the least 12. stabs a piece after they were dead.  
The same day about evening we hoist anchors, and set sail, having manned the Amsterdam with men out of our other ships, and so held our course Eastward.  
The 6. of December we came to a great Island called Madura, where we anchored, and in the evening two of their men came aboard our ships, with message from their Governor, saying that we were welcome, desiring us to stay there, for he would traffic with us, and sell us some Pepper, as they said, but we believed them not.  
The 7. of December there came another boat aboard, bringing certain fruits, saying that the next day their Governor would come to see our ships.  
The 8. there came a great fuste and three small boats, from off the land all full of men, saying their Governor was among them: we willed them not to go to the Amsterdam, but to the Mauritius, but they would not, but made to the Amsterdam, thinking because there had been so many murdered in her, there was not many men aboard her at that time, and when they were within a pikes length of her, (although they were directed to the other ships) they remembering their late mischance, shot off three or four stone Pieces full laden, wherewith they slew and hurt many of the Indians, whereupon they presently leapt over board, & we with our boats followed after and slew divers of them, taking ten or twelve, thinking by them to know what their intent was to do, but they could not certify us, and therefore we let them go again only keeping two boys, who long after stole out of the ship, and swam to land: They told us that the Governor being a Bishop or chief instructor of the country, was within the boat and slain among the rest, he had therein likewise a little boy one of his sons who we likewise took, and sent to land: The Bishop was of Mecca, and much esteemed of among them, a great Clerk, and Governor over all the rest of the Country: There was a jewel found about him, which as yet is kept.  
About evening we hoist anchors, & set sail, & the 11. of December we came to two small Islands, where we anchored, there we found none but poor people and fishermen, that brought us fish, Hens, & other fruit to sell.  

How far they were from Moluccas  The 13. we set sail, and the 14. we had a West wind, which they call the passage wind, that would have served us well to sail to Moluccas, from whence we were not distant above two hundred miles, and as than it was a good year for Cloves, which happeneth every three years: It was told us that we might there have a cabin laden full of Cloves, whereupon we determined to sail thither, but because we had already endured a long and troublesome voyage, and but ill manned, we would not, longing to be at home: This contrary wind holding upon the four and twenty of December we came to an Island where we had been before.  
The 25. of December john Molenaer master of the Mauritius, died suddenly, for an hour before he was well and in good health.  
The 28. 29. 30. and 31. of December we were busied to take all the wares, sails and other things out of the Amsterdam, her victuals and furnitures serving for our voyage homeward, & lying under that Island, we had victuals brought us every day as much as we needed, both fish, Hens, venison and fruit, and at reasonable price, but there we could get no water.  

The Amsterdam set on fire.  The 11. of january when we had unladen the Amsterdam we set her on fire, letting her burn, taking her men into our ships.  
The 12. of januarie we set sail again, some desiring to sail Eastward, others Westward, but in fine we set Westward to sail once again to Bantam, wherewith the Mauritius sailed southeastward, to get about the Island of java, and we followed her. The 14. of january we once again perceived the East point of the Island of Madura, and held our course Southward: on that side of Madura there lieth many small Islands, through which we sailed.  

The Pinnace on ground.  The 16. in the morning our Pinnace fell on ground upon the coast of java, not far from Pannorocan, where she shot off three pieces, at the which warning we made thither with our boats, and by the help of God got her off again: There we saw a high hill that burned, under and above the fire having a great smoke, most strange to behold.  
The 18. of january we entered into the strait that runneth between java and Baly, and by reason of the hard & contrary stream that ran therein, we were forced to anchor upon the coast of java, where we found good anchor ground.  
The 19 we set sail, and when we came near to the coast of Baly, we entered into a rough stream, and our ships drove backward, as swiftly as an arrow out of a bow, and there we found no anchor ground, nor any anchor could have holden us, but Molenaer got the coast of java and anchored, which in the end we likewise did, and anchored at the least three miles from him, and so much we had driven back in the space of half an hour.  
The 20. of januarie we went and lay by our other ships.  
The 21. of januarie there came two barks to the Mauritius, wherein there was one that could speak good Portugal, who told us that the town of Ballaboam was besieged by a strange King, that had married the King of Ballaboams' daughter, and after he had lain with her he caused her to be slain, and then came to besiege her father. This town of Ballaboam lieth on the East end of the Island of java, and is the same town where M. Candish was when he passed that way, and the old King whereof he writeth was as then yet living, being at the least 160. years of age. There we saw great numbers of Bats, that flew over our ships, and were as big as Crows, which in that Country they use to eat, as they say: About noon we came before the town of Ballaboam, so near unto it that we might easily see it, and there we lay behind a high point of land, thinking to take in water.  
The 22. of januarie we took our Pinnace, and sailed about the shore as near the land as possible we might, to seek for fresh water, but we found none, for the River that ran through the town was paled up (by them that lay before it) so that no man might pass either out or in, but only on the land side, and that with great danger: The same day there came 2. or 3. men aboard our ship, that stole out of the town by night, and came from the King, to desire our help with our great shot, which we could not do; because that thereabouts it was very shallow, and we might not go near it with our ships: they told us they had great want of victuals within the town, whereby many of them were already dead for hunger, and much desired our aid, but it was not in us to do. Those that besieged the town were Mores, but they in the town were heathens, and as yet had not received Mahomet's law, and that (as we heard after) was the cause of their war: There we saw many Storks flying and sitting in the field: with us we cannot imagaine where the Storks remain in winter time, but here we saw them in the winter time.  
The 24. of januarie we sailed from thence, perceiving nothing for us to get, and took our course right over to the Island of baly.  
The 25. we came to baly, where one of their barks boarded us, telling us that there we should find a River of fresh water, and of all things else sufficient to serve our necessities, whereupon we anchored.  
The 26. of januarie our Pinnace sent her boat to land, to see the River, and there one of our men was sent on shore, but when he was on land he found nothing, but an army of ten thousand men, that meant to relieve the town of Ballaboam, and the River was nothing worth to lad water, whereupon our men came on board again: Their General thought to have gotten some great pray out of our ships.  
The 27. of januarie we set sail to find a convenient place to refresh us with water and other provision, for we were informed by a man of Bengala, that of his own will sailed with us, and that had been in baly, that there we should find water and other things to serve our necessities, so that by night we anchored under a high point of land on the South west end of baly.  
The 28. of january one of their boats boarded us with six or seven men, saying that their King was desirous to deal with us for such wares as he had, and sent to know from whence we came, and we said we came out of Holland.  
The 29. and 30. there came more men aboard our ships, but as we suspected that was not the right haven, for the people came rowing in great haste a far off, and the man of Bengala could not tell what to say, but the King was thereabout, and every day sent us some fruit.  
The first of February we had two hogs brought aboard our ships, that we bought for two Rials of eight, and we eat them very savourly.  
The 2. of February, we set sail that we might get above the point, where we thought to find a better place for fresh water, but by reason the wind was contrary, we could not do it, but were forced to anchor again.  
The 3. of February we set sail again, and then we had a storm, so that our sail blew every way, and because of the contrary wind we could not reach above the point, but were constrained to anchor, but the Mauritius and the Pinnace got passed it, although thereby the Mauritius was in no little danger; but because the Pilot had laid a wager of 6. Rialles of 8. that he would get above it, he would pass, what danger soever it might be, and sailed close along by the cliffs, whereby we lay at anchor without company.  
The 4. and 5. we set sail once again to get above the point but could not reach it.  
The 6. we had a letter from Rodenburgh, that certified us how the Mauritius lay at anchor at the least 7. or 8. miles beyond the point, and he that brought the letter came with it over land; and at the same time there was a man sent on land with a small present for the King, that we might win his favour.  
The 7. our man came on board again, and brought us news how Rodenburgh with one of the Portugal's slaves, being on land were against their wills led before the King, but the sailors of the Mauritius had gotten men for pledges.  
The 8. of januarie, the same man went on land out of our ship with more presents of velvet and a caliver, the better to get the kings favour, which liked him well, and desired us to bring the ship nearer to the town, saying he would send us water and other things sufficient to supply our wants.  
The 9 we sailed into the cheek with our ship, & anchored about a small half mile from the land, & being anchored there came at the least 70. boats of the Country to see our ship, and the King sent us word that he was desirous to hear us shoot off 5. or 6. of our great pieces, whereupon we shot five of our greatest pieces, and the King stood upon the shore to see them.  
The 10. we had a letter from Cornelis Houtman, to will us to come to them, for that there they had found a good place for water, and of all other necessaries, so that about evening we set sail, leaving two of our men and a Portugal slave among the Indians, whom the King promised should come unto us over land, yet that night we could not reach above the point, mean time we perceived our Pinnace that came to help us.  
The 16. we got by the Mauritius, that had already laden in her water, and hooped her vessels, whereupon we began presently to do the like, and to visit our vessels that were almost spoiled.  
The 17. our men whom we left with the King came over land unto our ships, and then we bought great store of cattle and fruit.  
The 18. 19 20. and 21. we employed our time to lad water, which we had very easily, and refreshed ourselves with Cattle, Hogs, fruit, and Lemons sufficient. There came one of the kings principal officers with our men over land, to pleasure us in all things we desired, he was very desirous to have some present of us.  
The 22. of januarie two of our men that sailed in the Mauritius stayed on land, but we knew not the cause: it should seem some great promises had been made unto them, for as we understood, the King was very desirous to have all sorts of strange nations about him, 
Two of our men stayed with the Indians.  but our people were therein much overseen, for there they lived among heathens, that neither knew God nor his commandements, it appeared that their youths and wild heads did not remember it, one of their names was Emanuel Rodenburgh of Amsterdam, the other jacob Cuyper of Delft: within a day or two they sent unto us for their clothes, but we sent them not.  
The 23. 24. and 25. we made a voyage on land, and fetched as many Hogs aboard our ships as we could eat.  
The 25. of February we hoist anchors, minding to set sail & so go homeward, leaving our 2. men aforesaid on land, but because it was calm weather we anchored, and went once again on land, and the 26. of the same Month we set sail and held our course West South west, but we had a calm.   

The situation of the Island of Baly.  
THe Island of Baly lying at the East end of java, is a very fruitful Island of rice, Hens, Hogs, that are very good, and great store of cattle: but they are very dry and lean beasts. They have many horses: the inhabitants are heathens and have no religion, for some pray to Kine, others to the Sun, and every man as he thinketh good. 
How 50. women burnt themselves with one man.  When a man dieth his wife burneth herself with him: there were some of their men aboard our ships, that told us, that when some man dieth in that Country, that sometimes there are at the least fifty women that will burn themselves with him, and she that doth not so is accounted for a dishonest woman: so that it is a common thing with them: The apparel both of men and women is for the most part like those of Bantam, nothing but a cloth about their middles: Their weapons is, each man a poinyarde at their backs, and a trunk with an iron point like a spear, about a fathom and a half long, out of the which they blow certain arrows, whereof they have a case full; it is an evil weapon for naked men: they are enemies to the Moors and Portugal's. This Island yieldeth no spice, nor any other costly ware, only victuals and clothes which they wear about their bodies, and slaves that are there to be sold. The King went with more state than the King of Bantam: all his guard had pikes with heads of fine gold, and he sat in a waggon that was drawn by 2. two white Buffles.  
The first of March we had a calm.  
The third we got a good wind that blue Southeast, holding our course West South west.  
The fourteenth the wind blew still South east, sometimes more southward, and sometimes Eastward, being under 14. degrees, and a good sharp gale, holding our course West south-west: 
The situation of java  There we found that java is not so broad, nor stretcheth itself not so much southward, as it is set down in the Card: for if it were, we should have passed clean through the middle of the land.  
The 22. of March the wind held as it did, being under 19 degrees, holding our course West South west.  
The 19 of April our ship had no more bread left, but for our last partition every man had seven pound, both good and bad bread, and from that time forward our meat was Rice sodden in water, and every man had a can of water every day, with three romers of wine, and weekly each man three romers or glasses of oil and that very strong, and nothing else.  
The 20. we had a calm, the 21. a calm with a Northern air.  
The 23. a good wind that blue south-west.  
The 24. we saw the firm land of Aethiopia, being under 33 degrees, and as we guessed, we were then about an hundred miles from the Cape de bona Sperance, yet we thought we had been at the least three hundred miles from it, so that we may say, that God wrought wonderfully for us: for that if we had fallen by night upon the land, we had surely run upon it: we had a good wind out of the West, and West south-west.  
The 25. of April in the morning we had a calm, with a very hollow water, & at evening we had a good wind, that came North and north-east, and although we had so good a wound yet our ship bore but little sail, although the other two ships of our company were at the least two mile before us, for most part of the night we sailed with our schover sail, holding our course south-west & by West.  
The 26. of April in the morning we could not see our ships, which pleased not our men, besides that our ship was very weak, whereby her ribs shaken, and her joints with the force of the water opened and shut, so that as then our ship was very leak, having the wind Northwest, holding our course as near as we could West south-west, and then we put out our main sails, at noon the wind came West, with a great storm, so that most of our sails blew in pieces, and so we drove forward with out sails.  
The 27. of April still driving without sail with a West wind, we were under thirty six degrees, so that we found that the stream drove us South & South West.  
The 28. of April still driving without sails, we had the height of 36. degrees and 20. minutes, and about evening we hoist sail again, the wind being West south-west, & we held our course Northwest with very hollow water.  
The 29. of April we could not as yet see our ships, the wind being West.  
The 30. of April we had fair weather with a West and west South west wind, and then we saw many great birds with white bills, which is a sign not to be far from the Cape de bona Sperance, we likewise saw certain small birds, speckled on their backs, and white upon their breasts.  
The first of May we had a South wind with fair weather, having 34. degrees and a half, holding our course West south-west.  
The second of May we were under 35. degrees, and ½. holding our course West and West and by North.  
The fourth of May we found ourselves to be under 37. degrees South South east wind, our course being West and by North, and West North west.  
The 5. and 6. of May we had all one wind at noon being under 35. degrees, we thought we had past the Cape, and held our course Northwest, towards Saint Helena, still without sight of our ships.  
The 8. of May with a South wind we held North West and by West.  

Signs of the Cape de bona Speranza.  The 9 we had a calm with a grey sky, and were under 31. degrees and twenty minutes, and then our portion of oil was increased a glass more every week, so that every man had four glasses.  
The 10. we had still south winds, & were under 29. deg.  
The 14. of April twice or thrice we saw reeds, called Trombos' driving on the water, being such as drive about the Cape de bona Speranza, which we thought very strange, for that the Portugeses writ, that they are seen but thirty miles from the Cape, and we guessed ourselves to be at the least 200. beyond it.  
The 15. we still had a South east wind, & held our course Northwest.  
The 16. of April in the morning we saw two ships, whereat we much rejoiced, thinking they had been our company, we made to leeward of them, and the smallest of them coming somewhat near us, about the length of the shot of a great piece, she made presently toward her fellow, whereby we perceived them to be French men, yet we kept to leeward, thinking they would have come & spoken with us, but it should seem they feared us, and durst not come, but held their course North-east: at noon we had the height of 22. degrees, and 50. minutes with a Southeast wind, holding our course Northwest.  
The 17. of May we were under 21. degrees and a half: the 18. the wind being Southerly, we were under 19 degrees and a half.  
The 19 and 20. we had a calm with a Southrens are.   map of St Helena 
SANCTA HELENA  
The 21. the air coming south-west, we held our course Northwest, and were under 17. degrees and ⅔. parts: There we found the compass to decline three quarters of a strike or line North eastward, after noon we had a Southeast wind, and our course West Northwest.  
The 22. of May we had still a Southeast wind, and were under the height of 16. degrees and 40. minutes, holding our course West Northwest.  
The 23. of May, by reason of the cloudy sky, about noon we could not take the height of the Sun, but as we guessed we had the height of the Island of S. Helena, and held our course West and by South to keep under that height, for there the compasses decline a whole strike or line: in the evening we found that we were under 16. degrees.  
The 24. of May in the morning we discovered a Portugal ship, that stayed for us, and put out a flag of truce, and because our flag of truce was not so ready as theirs, and we having the wind of him, therefore he shot two shoots at us, and put forth a flag out of his main top, and we shot 5. or 6. times at him, and so held on our course without speaking to him, having a South east wind, holding our course West and by South to find the Island of S. Helena, which the Portugal likewise sought.  
The 25. of May we discovered the Island of S. Helena, but we could not see the Portugal ship, still sailing with a stiff Southeast wind, & about evening we were under the Island, which is very high land, and may be seen at the least 14. or 15. miles off, and as we sailed about the North point, there lay three other great Portugal ships, we being not above half a mile from them, whereupon we held in the weather and to seaward North-east as much as we might. 
Four Portugal ships richly laden  The Portugal's perceiving us, the Admiral of their fleet shot off a piece to call their men that were on land to come a board, and then we saw four of their ships together, that were worth a great sum of money, at the least 300. tons of gold, for they were all laden with spices, precious stones, and other rich wares, and therefore we durst not anchor under the Island, but lay all night Northeastwarde, staying for our company.  
The 26. of May in the morning we made towards the Island again, with a good Southeast wind, and about noon or somewhat past we descried two ships, and about evening as we made towards them, we knew them to be our company, which made us to rejoice, for we had been asunder the space of a whole Month, & so we held together and sailed homeward, holding our course Northwest: for as yet our men were well and in good health, and we found a good Southeast wind, and had water enough for four or five months.  
The 27. 28. 29. and 30. of May we had a Southeast wind, with fair weather, and the 27. day we were under 14. degrees, The first of june we were under 6. degrees, with a Southest wind, holding our course north west, but by means of the Compass that yielded north eastward, we kept about Northwest & by North. The 6. of june we were under one degree on the South side of the line, there we found that the stream drove us fast into the West, and therefore we held our course more Northernely, and sailed Northwest & by north, with an East and South east wound. 
They passed the Equinoctial line.  The 7. of june we passed the Equinoctial line, with an East wind, holding our course North Northwest.  
The 10. of june in the evening we were under 5. degrees and a half on the North side of the line, and then we began again to see the north star, which for the space of 2. years we had not seen, holding our course North Northwest, there we began to have small blasts, & some times calms, but the air all South and Southeast.  
The 11. of june we had a calm, and yet a dark sky, that came southeastward. The 12. of june we had a close sky with rain, and the same day about evening our fore top mast fell down.  
The 13. we struck all our sails and mended our ship.  
The 14. we had the wind Northward, holding our course West Northwest as near as we could, but by reason of the thick sky we could not take height of the Sun. The 15. of june we had the wind North, & North Northwest. The 16. of june we had the height of 9 degrees & 10. minutes, the wind being North-east and North north-east. The 17. the wind was North-east with fair weather, & we held Northwest, & northwest & by North till after noon. 
They took a great fish.  The 18. we took a great fish called an Aluercoor, which served us all for 2. meals, which we had not tasted of long time before.  
The 26. we had still a North-east wind, and sometimes larger, holding our course North Northwest with large sail, and were under 17. degrees and ½.  
The same day there came much dust flying into our ship, as if we had passed hard by some sandy down, & we guessed the nearest land to us might be the Island of S. Anthony, and we were as then at the least 40. or 50. miles from it: The same day likewise there came a flying fish into our ship, which we eat.  
The 28. of june we had the height of 20. degrees, with a East north-east wind & East and by West, with full sail, there we saw much Sargosse, driving on the water. The last of june we had the Sun right over our heads, and yet we felt no heat, for that by reason of the cold air we had a fine cool weather. The same day we passed Tropicus Cancri, still having the wind East north-east, and in the evening we were under 24. degr.  
The second of july we still saw Sargosse driving upon the water, & had the wind somewhat lower North North-east with a calm. The third of july the wind came again East north-east, and we held our course North and by West. The 8. of july we were under 33. degrees & ½. with an East wind, holding our course North and by East, and yet we saw much Sargosse driving, but not so thick as it did before.  
The 10. of july we had a good wind that blue south and South and by East, and hoisted up our main tops, that for the space of 26. days were never touched, and held our course North north-east, there we were in no little fear to fall among the Spanish fleet, which at that time of the year keepeth about the Flemish Islands.  
The same day one of our boys fell over board, and was carried away with a swift stream before the wind, but to his great good fortune, the Pinnace saved him, that was at the least a quarter of a mile from us: this evening we found the height of 36. degrees.  
The 12. of july we had a south-west wind, holding our course North-east and by North: Our Pilot and the Pilot of the Pinnace differed a degree in the height of the Sun, for ours had 38. degrees, and theirs but 37. We guessed to be about the Islands of Corbo & Flores, but the one held more easterly, and the other more Westerly. The 13. of july we had still a south-west wind, and after noon we thought we had seen land, but we were not assured thereof, for it was somewhat close. The 14. of july we had a calm, and saw no land, and then our men began to be sick.  
The 17. of july we had a South Southeast wind, with fair weather, and were under 41. degrees, holding our course East north-east.  
The 18. 19 20. and 21. it was calm. The 22. of july the wind came North, and we held our course East Southeast. The 23. of july the wind was North North east and North-east, and we held as near as we could East & East Southeast, the same day our steward found a barrel of stockfish in the roaming, which if we had been at home we would have cast it on the dunghill, it stunk so filthily, & yet we eat it as savourly as the best meat in the world.  
The 24. we had a West wind, & that with so strong a gale, that we were forced to set two men at helm, which pleased us well.  
The 25. of july we had a storm that blue West and west Northwest, so that we bore but two sails, holding our course North-east and by East.  
The first of August we were under 45. degrees with a North west wind, holding our course North-east and by East.  
The second of August one of our men called Gerrit Cornelison of Spijckenes died, being the first man that died in our voyage homeward.  
The 4. of August we had a Northwest wind.  
The 5. of August in the morning the wind came south-west, and we were under 47. degrees, holding our course North-east and the North north-east, and we guessed that we were not far from the channel, those days aforesaid we had so great cold in our ships, as if it had been in the middle of winter: We could not be warm with all the clothes we had. The same day we saw Sargosse drive upon the water.  

They saw a ship with the Prince of Prince of Orange's flag.  The 6. of August we had a West wind, in the morning cast out our lead and found ground at 80. fathom, and about noon we saw a ship that bore the Prince's flag, yet durst not come near us, although we made signs unto him, and after noon we saw the land of Heissant, whereat we all rejoiced.  
The 7. of August in the morning we saw the land of France, and held our course North North-east, and likewise we saw a small ship, but spoke not with it.  
The 8. of August in the morning we saw the Kiskas, and had a South wound and somewhat West, holding our course East north-east.  

They saw a man of war  The 9 of Augst we entered the heads, and past them with a south-west wound, sailing North-east. After noon we passed by a man of war being a Hollander, that lay at anchor, and he hoist anchor to follow us, about evening we spoke with him, but because of the wind we could hardly hear what he said, yet he sailed on with us.  

The man of war gave them victuals.  The 10. of August the man of war boarded us with his boat, and brought us a barrel of Beer, some bread, and Cheese, showing us what news he could touching the state of Holland, and presently we saw the land of Holland, & because it blew very stiff & a great storm, after noon we anchored about Petten to stay for better weather, and some new Pilots, & that was the first time we had cast anchor for the space of 5. months together, about evening it began to blow so stiff, that we lost both an anchor and a cable.  
The 11. of August we had still a Southerly wind, & therefore about noon the Mauritius set sail, and we thought likewise to sail, but our men were so weak that we could not hoist up our anchor, so that we were constrained to lie still till men came out to help us, about evening the wind came south-west, and with so great a storm, that we thought to have run upon the strand, 
They cut down their main mast.  and were forced to cut down our main mast.  
The 12. and 13. we had a hard South west wind, & sometimes West, so that no Pilots came aboard our ship, but the 13. day about evening it began to be fair weather.  
The 14. of August about break of day in the morning, there came two boats with Pilots and men aboard our ship, that were sent out by our owners, & brought us some fresh victuals, which done they hoist up our anchors, and about noon we sailed into the Tessel, and anchored in the channel, where we had fresh victuals enough, for we were all very weak.  
This was a great novelty to all the Merchants and inhabitants of Holland, for that we went out from thence the second of April 1595. and returned home again upon the 14. of August 1597. there you might have bought of the Pepper, Nutmegs, Cloves, and Mace, which we brought with us. Our sailors were most part sick, being but 80. men in all, two third parts of their company being dead, & lost by divers accidents, and among those fourscore such as were sick, as soon as they were on land and at their ease presently recovered their healths.   


The Copper money of java.  
 diagram of the copper coin of Java  
THis Copper money cometh also out of China, & is almost as thick, great and heavy, as a quarter of a Doller, and somewhat thicker, in the middle having a square hole, 2000 of them are worth a Rial of 8. but of these there are not over many, the use to hang them upon strings, and pay them without telling, they stand not so narrowly upon the number, for if they want but 25. or 50. it is nothing.   

The leaden money of java.  
 diagram of the lead coin of Java  
THis piece of money (being of bad Lead is very rough) hath in the middle a four square hole, they are hanged by two hundred upon a string, they are commonly 10. 11. and 12. thousand to a Rial of 8. as there cometh great quantity out of China, where they are made, and so as there is plenty or scarcity they rise and fall.   
FINIS.