Philippines fill’d with Chineses. The Philippine Islands were now appointed for the Place of Arms, considering the great Delays Experience had shown there were towards Recovering of the Molucco Islands. In the mean while, notwithstanding that Don Francis Tello was warn’d, how pernicious Inhabitants he was like to have in the Sangleyes, or Chineses, by whom the Islands of his Province began to be much peopled and fill’d, yet he allow’d them greater Liberty than was convenient; and the Municipal Laws which provided against this Disorder being forgotten or contemn’d, in a very short Time there were additional Towns of Chineses, Chincheos, and other such like Monsters, who were no better than Pyrates, or Incendiaries in that Country, which ought to have taken sufficient Warning by, and been well provided on Account of past Accidents, to shut up all Passages against such Enemy Nations. Don Francisco excus’d their Resort, alledging, That they imported Abundance of Provisions and Merchandise, which is what usually enriches all Places; That no Men have such a consummate Mechanick Genius as they; That they are more assiduous and constant at the Works and Buildings than the Natives of the Philippines. He said, That all the Jealousy generally conceiv’d of them vanishes, if the Governour administers Justice impartially, and permits no private Cabals. All these are, or appear’d to be frivolous Reasons, without any Force; and the admitting of such an Inundation of those People, prov’d very dangerous, as may be seen in the Sequel of this Work, by what happen’d to the Governour Gomez Perez. It was a particular Providence of Heaven, that other Nations did not go about to League with this, or the Dutch, who have so strongly fix’d themselves in the Archipelago; for they might, without much Difficulty, have given us more Trouble than has been occasion’d by the Rebellion of the Kings of the Moluccos; to whose Country, and all others in India, great Fleets of Dutch resort, ever since the Year 1585, whereof Dutch Writers give an Account, and lay down in Cuts, even the smallest Plants they produce.
It does not belong to us to give an Account of the English, Dutch, or other Nations of India and Asia, or their Expeditions and Voyages; but only such as relate to the Conquest of Ternate and the Molucco Islands, or may have some Dependance on this Subject; but be it known, once for all, that every Year, some Northern Fleets appear’d, coming either thro’ New Streights, still unknown to our Discoverers, or those before frequented and laid down. But before we enter upon this Relation, it seems requisite to say something of Holland, the Head of the Neighbouring Islands, as that which is become most outrageous in India, and most covets the Account of Holland. Moluccos. The province of Holland is almost on all Sides encompass’d by the Sea, and the Ports of the Maese and Rhine, for about 60 Leagues in Compass. Within it are contain’d 29 wall’d Towns, whose Names and Situation does not belong to us to speak of, nor of those of Zealand, or the other Provinces subject to them. The Curious may read Lambert, Hortensius, and Montesortius. The Natives are descended from the Ancient Catti; and forasmuch as Erasmus of Rotterdam, which is in Holland, describes it in his Chiliades, we will abridge what he there delivers at large, out of Affection to his Country. The Learned, say he, agree, and it is a probable Conjecture, that the Island Tacitus mentions, lying from Tacitus l. 20. the Rhine to the Ocean, is that we call Holland; which I am oblig’d to Honour, as owing my first Breath to it; and would to God we could honour it as it deserves. Martial charges it with being rude, or unpolished; and Lucan with Cruelty. Either these Things do not belong to us, but to our Ancestors, or we may value our selves upon them both. What Nation is now known, whose first Fathers were not more uncouth than their Posterity? Or when was Rome more highly commended, than when its People knew no other Arts but Tillage and Warfare? Erasmus spends Time in proving, that it is the Nature of Holland, not to relish Martial’s Wit; and that this is not the Effect of Rudeness, but a Gravity worthy Imitation. Then he makes an Exclamation, saying, Would to God all Christians had Dutch Ears! And that if still any one shall contend, the Nation is in the Wrong, in having stopp’d theirs to all Poetical Delights and Allurements, and arm’d it self against them; the Dutch valu’d themselves upon being comprehended in that Reflection, which did not displease the Ancient Sabines, the Perfect Lacedemonians, and the Severe Catos. Lucan call’d the Batavi, that is the Dutch, Cruel, as Virgil did the Romans, Vehement. Erasmus adds, That the Customs of these Nations Erasmus of the Manners of Hollanders. are Familiar, inclining to Meekness and Benignity, and not to Fierceness; because Nature endow’d them with a sincere Disposition, free from Fraud and Double-Dealing, and did not make them subject to extraordinary Vices, except the Love of Pleasure, and Excess in Entertainments. This is caus’d by the Multitude of Beauties, which are Incentives, by the several Sea-Ports on the Ocean, the Mouths of the two Rivers, Rhine and Maese; the perpetual Felicity of the Soil, water’d by other Navigable Rivers; and the Fish and Foul in the Ponds and Woods. No Province of so small a Compass, contains so many Cities of a considerable Magnitude, and so Populous, excellently govern’d; so full of Commodities, Arts and Trade. It abounds in Men indifferently learn’d. Erasmus himself, in Conclusion, owns that none of them arrives to singular Erudition. This Account, which in all that is natural must be own’d not to exceed, affords Arguments to condemn and convince the Author of it, and the Nation it self. All that Part of the World where Religion and Politeness flourish, is acquainted with the Diversity of Opinions all those Nations espouse, of Protestants, Puritans, Calvinists, these the most Numerous; Huguenots, Lutherans, and all other Sorts, too long to enumerate, and not to our Purpose. Since Erasmus confesses that his Country does not produce any Persons of eminent Learning, why do they take upon them to decide Controversies in Religion? Why do they incroach upon Councils? If they are of such an excellent Disposition, and have such a modest Genius, The Authors Reflections on them. Why do they cast off that Piety, whereof there are such ancient Testimonies in our first Fathers, so much honour’d by the primitive Charity of the true Church? It is true, as Erasmus says, that they are of a kind Temper, but Tenacious of whatsoever they once espouse; the same moves us to pity them the more, for the Difficulty of dealing with Positiveness in Minds that are not given to change. Let no Man believe but that under that seeming Meekness in Behaviour, the highest Degree of Pride lies A Spanish Author cannot forbear these Reflections. couch’d. What greater Pride than to scoff at the most ancient Church? At its Apostolical Traditions? At her universal Agreement? At the Miracles God has wrought, to approve the Catholick Doctrine? And what Error can be more inexcusable, than to follow the New Opinions of unlearned and vicious Men, such as the Arch-Hereticks were; and to live under a Necessity of not laying down their seditious Arms only to defend Impiety grounded on Ignorance, and the Extravagancies of their Passions? What House is there in those Cities which Erasmus extols, wherein all the Inhabitants profess and follow the same Way of spiritual Salvation? When the Father is a Calvinist, the Mother is often a Huguenot, the Son a Lutheran, the Servant a Hussite, and the Daughter a Protestant. All the Family is divided, or rather every particular Person’s Soul is so, and at best doubts of all. Wherein does this differ from Atheism? It is positive Atheism. This Division, unworthy of wild Beasts, is the Occasion, and a Sort of Mathematical Necessity, that these People cannot be united among themselves in true Peace. For those Things are the same to one See the latter part of the Preface. another, that they are to a Third; so that almost all these having different Notions, as to God, they cannot of Necessity be united among themselves, as differing in the most essential Part, which is the having an uniform Notion of God in Religion. Let no Man believe, that because they are not at War among themselves, it is Love that is the Occasion of it. The Ground of their false Tranquility is to be call’d a Cessation, and not Peace. These are the People who have unhing’d Loyalty and the Christian Religion, before settled in the Islands, and remotest Parts of Asia, making Excursions from their own Country, as far as China, their raging Avarice being grounded on the Advice given them by the Queen of England, and on Malice, because King Philip the IId had shut up the other Ports of his Kingdoms against them; so to endeavour to reduce them to the Truth and Submission, by taking from them the Advantages of Trade.
Dutch first sail to the Moluccos. The first Dutch Fleet that came to the Molucco Islands, after the English, in the Year 1598, shall be here spoken of. Some prime Men, for the Sake of their Country, as they said, and to gain Reputation, met in Holland and Zealand, and fitted out six Ships and two Brigantines, to sail into India. The first Ship they call’d the Maurice, the Admiral in her being Jacob Cornelius Neck, born at Roterdam, and the Master Gonaert Jansk; the second was the Amsterdam, and in her the Vice-Admiral Vibrant Darkik; the other Ships were the Holland, the Zealand, the Guelder, and the Utrecht; The bigger Brigantine the Friezland, and the smaller the Overissel. They carry’d 160 Soldiers, besides Mariners, and saild from Roterdam on the 13th of March. Off from Sluys, on the 4th of April, they had such a dreadful Storm, as might have discourag’d them from Proceeding, and the Ship the Holland was almost disabled; but still they were drove on by the Weather to the Texel, and thence to Debenter, and in Conclusion they got into the Ocean. They met another Ship returning to the Low Countries, which presented them with 10000 Oranges, and having distributed them among the Men, they made a general Rejoycing, for the baptizing of 25 Men, aboard the Ship the Guelder, on the 10th of May. Barrels must be a Mistake. On the 11th they anchor’d at Barrels, and on the 15th at the Island Madera, and again on the 17th at the Canaries, Gomera, and Palma, passing by those of Sal and Santiago, which are those of Cabo Verde, they furl’d all their Sails, and drove in a Storm, in 29 Degrees Latitude. On the first of June they took a Sea Tortoise which weigh’d 143 Pounds. On the 15th of the same Month, Gerrit Jans, either provok’d by Wine or a worse Spirit, cast himself into the Sea, from the highest Part of the greater Brigantine. The next Day, aboard the Ship Guelder, in which the new baptised Men were, they saw a large flying-Fish, which clapping too its Wings, Fell into the said Ship; but they saw the same Sort of Fishes fall upon their Vessels at other Times. On the Eighth they cross’d the Line, and began to distribute a Pot of Wine to every six Men; but on the 25th of the same Month, for Joy of having pass’d the Ridges of Rocks before Brazil, which run to the Southward in 18 Degrees of South Latitude, they allow’d three Pots to every seven Men. Such a thick Fog fell that they lost Sight of the smaller Brigantine; the Zealand soon found her again, and discover’d many Cranes standing on the Tops of the Reeds, or Canes, that grew out Tall and of an equal Height above the Water. On the 24th of July, they came to an Anchor at the Cape of Good Hope, whence they sail’d again on the 15th of August with Stormy Weather, all the eight Vessels together, the Sea there boiling up as a Pot does upon The Sea seems to boil up. the Fire. This Motion, like boiling, was seen for about a Musket Shot in Length, and the Breadth of a Ship, and all this Space was cover’d thick with Weeds, which they pass’d over by main Force, without any Danger.
Madagascar. On the 24th they reach’d the Island of Madagascar, or of S. Laurence, and saw abundance of Whales. Here the plentiful Distribution of Wine ceas’d, and it began to be given out more sparingly, to lament by this Abstinence, the Death of John Pomer, a skilful Sailor. On the 27th they pass’d Cape S. Sebastian, and on the 30th Cape S. Julian. On the 4th of September, it was debated whether they should make for the Island of Banda, or put into the Bay of Anton Gill. They came to no Resolution at that Time, tho’ they afterwards arriv’d separately at Banda, and at several Times. On the 17th they discover’d, at a great Distance, the Island of Cerne, by others call’d the Isle of Swans, which is high and mountainous, and for Joy of the Water they expected to take in there, they gave every Man three Cups of Wine. Before that, the Vice-Admiral went ashore with five Men, in another little Island, and taking a View of it, found a Noble Spacious Harbour, well land-lock’d, into which a Rivulet of fresh They land in a small Island. Water fell. They put in and refitted their shatter’d Vessels, finding 14 Fathom Water. They had not Landed in four Months, and therefore in Thanksgiving, and because it was then Fair Time in Holland, they made a Sort of Chappel; on the Bodies of Trees, and covering it with Leaves, preach’d there twice a Day, in Honour of the Fair. They eat Abundance of Fowl, which they could almost take with their Hands, and drank Wine more plentifully. A Native of Madagascar, who came along with them, and had been taken in a former Voyage, was, by the Instruction of those Sermons, made a Christian, and baptiz’d, taking the Name of Laurence. They found no Inhabitants in the Island though it was Delightful.
Clear Water in the Sea. On the 28th and 29th, they observ’d they were upon a very Christalline Water, without any other Tokens of their being near Land, and those same Days at Noon, they had the Sun in the Zenith, directly over their Heads, which had happen’d to them at other Times. Here a Storm separated the Ships; the Maurice, which was Admiral, by them in Latin call’d Prætoria, the Holland, and the Overissel, tho’ they endeavour’d to Cerne Island. make Java, were drove by Stress of Weather to Banda; and the other five to the Island Cerne, or of Swans, leaving six other smaller on the Right Hand. They enter’d the Port with ten Fathom Water, between two Mountains, which contract the Mouth of it. The Situation of it is in 21 Degrees of South Latitude, and is five Leagues in Compass. The Port is Spacious enough to contain 50 Ships, and shelter’d against all Winds. They were so well pleas’d with the Island, that they chang’d its ancient Name of Cerne, or of Swans, for that of Maurice, in Honour of Count Maurice of Nassau, Bastard Son to the Prince of Orange, so well known in our Days. Discoverers were sent about it, and return’d without finding any humane Track, nor Signs of any Habitation. They had a doubtful Tame Birds and Beasts. Proof hereof in the Birds and Beasts; for they ran into their Hands and alighted on their Heads, as they might have done on the Branches of Trees, or had they been bred Tame; which Boldness proceeded either from their having never seen Men, or being grown very familiar with them. Strange Bats. Among the rest, there are Bats, which have Heads as big, and like Apes, and these sleep considerable Numbers of them together, and hanging on the Trees, with their Legs and Wings extended. The Air and Soil are so healthy and fit to be inhabited, that as soon as the Sick were landed, they recovered. The Land is high and mountainous, full of Woods, and not being inhabited, there are no Tracts or Paths through them. There Ebony. is an infinite Quantity of Ebony Trees, as black as Pitch, and as smooth as Ivory; the Trunks being cover’d with a rough Bark, preserve the Body solid. There are other Plants, whose Trunks are Red, and others Pale as Wax; delicious Coco-Nuts, vast Numbers of Palm-Trees, and some of them of such Sort, that one of their Leaves covers all a Man’s Body, and defends it against the Rain. They spread their Nets, and among the other Monstrous Thornback. Multitude of Fishes, took a Thornback so large, that it afforded two Meals Tortoises. for all the Men in the Ships. They saw Land Tortoises, so big, that one of them walk’d with four Soldiers sitting on its Back; and ten of them din’d upon the Shell of another, as if it had been a round Table. In a very short Time they kill’d Abundance of Turtle-Doves, and another Sort of Penguins. white Birds, bigger than our Swans, but as round as a Ball, and have only two or three curl’d Feathers in the Tail. There were so many blew Parrots, that they might have loaded their Ships with them. Indian Crows, twice as big as the European, of three several colour’d Feathers.
They erected Forges, dress’d all their Tools, and built another Vessel, to supply the Place of the Utrecht, which with the other two, had directed her Course for Madagascar. They again took a View of their Maurice Island, and towards the Inland Part of it, tho’ there were no Signs of any Wax found with Greek Characters. humane Habitation, found about three hundred Pounds weight of Wax, on which there were plain Greek Letters and Characters. They also saw Oars, Nets, and Pieces of Timber, being the Wreck of Ships. The Vice-Admiral, providing a smooth square Board, carv’d on it the Arms of Holland, Zealand, and Amsterdam, and nail’d it on the Top of a Tree, as a Memorial of his being there, and giving the Name of MAURICE to the island, with this Inscription, which being in Spanish, denotes their Hatred to the Ancient Faith of our Nation, and being couch’d in one Line over their Arms, was, THE REFORM’D CHRISTIANS. Then they plow’d up a large Field, and sow’d it with Wheat, and other European Grain; turning lose some Hens, to see what Improvement they should find another Time. They again, for some Days, visited the Hills and Plains, and found no Track of Man.
Whilst these refresh’d themselves at the Island Cerne, or of Swans, being fourteen Days, the other three Ships arriv’d at S. Mary’s, a barren Island, S. Mary Island. tho’ some Orange and Lemon Trees grow in it, as also Sugar Canes, and there are Hens. About it, and in Sight of Land, there are monstrous Whales. They landed, but not without Opposition from the Natives, with whom they fought, and took their King; but he was easily ransom’d, a Strange Ransom for a King. Cow and a Calf being given them in Exchange for him. They saw the Manner of the Whale Fishery, which is very easy there. The Indians make up close to them in their Canoes, and stick them with a Harping-Iron they dart, being ty’d to Ropes made of the Barks of Trees. They stor’d their Ship with their Flesh and Oil, and some Oranges, and went over to the Bay of Anton Gil, where the Madagascar Indian, would not stay, as he had desired before, being now well affected to the Habit and Drunkenness of his Companions. They were toss’d backwards and forwards for five Days, between certain Islands, destitute of Provisions, and unsafe, by Reason they were in War among themselves.
They set forward with a fair Gale towards Java, and on the 26th of December, 1598, arriv’d at Banda, which is eight Leagues from Amboina. Banda Island. This Island is shap’d like a Horse-shooe, and lies in four Degrees of South Latitude. It is most fruitful, with little or no Improvement, in Nutmegs, and their precious Mace; as also Provisions and Medicines for Men, beyond all other Parts of the known World. It is divided into three Parts, each of them three Leagues in Compass. The Capital City is called Nera. As soon as they arriv’d, they contracted Friendship with the Islanders; tho’ a foreign Ship, to secure the Trade to herself, gave them to understand, that the Dutch were certain Pirates who fled the Year before, and had lain conceal’d at Sea, to come again and rob the Island, and therefore they did not fully credit them. This Notion was back’d by Trading Portugueses, and others settled there; but the Dutch sending their Abdol, that is the Indian Interpreter, with some Soldiers, and Gifts to present the King, according to the Custom of Merchants that come into his Country, they before him clear’d that Imputation, and defended their Innocence. The King was an Infant, and govern’d by his Cephates, that The Dutch settle Trade there. is his Vice-Roy, Tutor, or Protector, who set all right. They gave the King the Present before him, which he receiv’d very graciously. It consisted of certain valuable gilt Vessels, admirably ingrav’d, Christal Glasses, Looking-Glasses in gilt Frames, and Pieces of Velvet and Taffety. They deliver’d him Letters and Commissions of the States of Holland, Zealand, and Count Maurice, with their Seals hanging to them in Form. All was accepted, and they lay down flat on the Ground to receive and read the Letters, with profound Reverence. The King promis’d to answer them, as he did, and immediately gave leave to Trade; whereupon the Dutch built Factories in the Island. They then expos’d in publick Shops great Store of Arms, Silks, Linnen and Cloth; as did the Natives their Spice, China Ware, and Pearls, and other Commodities the Neighbouring Islanders and Chineses bring hither to barter, and sell to one another. Five All their Ships meet again. Weeks after, the other three Ships arriv’d, and the people of the City hearing the Discharges of the Cannon, and seeing the Auncients spread abroad, for Joy of the Ships meeting again, came down to the Port, and encompass’d the Ships in Boats, offering them Plenty of Fowl, Eggs, Coco Nuts, Bananas, Sugar-Canes, and Cakes made of Rice-Flower. This dainty Feeding continu’d every Day, and they gave them a Weeks Provision for a Dutch Man for one Pewter Spoon. However they rais’d the Price of Pepper; but they pay’d for all with Pins and Needles, Knives, Spoons, Looking-Glasses, and little Tabors; and with those same Commodities, they purchas’d more valuable Goods at Sumatra, as also Provisions; when four of these eight Ships return’d Homewards, the others sailing for Ternate and the Moluccos.
The greatest Quantity, and best Commodity they took in here, was of The Nutmeg Tree. are few and weak; but in Banda there is a plentiful Crop, and they have much more Virtue. Nature has cloath’d its Mountains and Plains, with Woods and Groves of these Plants. They are like the European Pear-Trees, and their Fruit resembles Pairs, or rather in Roundness the Melocotones. When the Nutmegs blosom, they spread a cordial Fragrancy; by degrees they lose their Native Green, which is original in all Vegetables; and then succeeds a Blew, intermix’d with Grey, Cherry-Colour, and a pale Gold Colour, as we see in the Rainbow, tho’ not in that regular Division, but in Spots like the Jaspar Stone. Infinite Numbers of Parrots, and other birds of various Plumage, most delightful to behold, come to sit upon the Branches, attracted by the sweet Odour. The Nuts, when dry, cast off the Shell it grows cover’d with, and is the Mace, within which is a white Kernel, not so sharp in Taste as the Nut, and when dry is converted into its Substance. Of this Mace, which is hot and dry in the second Degree, and within the third, the Bandeses make a most Oil of Nutmeg. precious Oil to cure all Distempers in the Nerves, and Aches caus’d by cold. Of these Nuts they choose the freshest, weightiest, fattest, juiciest, Virtues of Nutmeg. and without any Hole. With them they cure, or correct stinking Breath, clear the Eyes, comfort the Stomach, Liver, and Spleen, and digest Meat. They are a Remedy against many other Distempers, and serve to add outward Lustre to the Face. The Bandeses call the Mace of their Aromatick Nuts, Buna Pala. It was not known to the Greeks nor to Pliny, according to Averrois; tho’ Serapion, whether the true, or the suppositious, when he describes it, alledges Gallen’s Authority. It is true, the Chrisabolans he treated of, agree well enough with the Nutmegs in Colour and Shape.
The Javaneses, Chineses, and Natives of the Moluccos resort to the City Mora, to barter for this precious Fruit, and load their Ships with it; and Merchants way of living at Banda. this is the Trade of that People, as is that of Clove to Ternate, Tydore, and the other Moluccos. The Merchants arriving in this Island, many of them contribute to make up a Sum, wherewith they purchase a Woman, to dress their Meat, and attend them. The Dutch did so from this first Time. When they go away she is left Free, till they return the next Year; so that her Slavery commences with the Return of her Masters, and their Absence gives it an Intermission. Some of the Natives are Idolaters; but the greater Part Mahometans, and so superstitious, that the very Soldiers do not mount the Guard, till they have pray’d in the Mosques, so loud, that all Religion of Banda. the Neighbourhood can hear them. Nor must any Man go into them without washing his Feet, in great Vessels of Water, provided at the Door, by the publick. Their Prayers consist in these Words, Estagfer Ai’lah Estagfer Al’lah, Asgiv’d Ai’lahe, Asgiv’d Al’lahe, La Il’lahe Inla Ai’lah, Mu.amed resul At’lahi. When they utter these last Words, they stroke their Faces with their Hands, a Ceremony denoting much Devotion. The Words in English are; Pardon O God, Pardon O God. I prostrate my self to God. I prostrate my self to God. There is no other God but God, and Mahomet his Messenger: By these Words, There is no other God but God, they deny the eneffable Mystery of the most blessed Trinity. Then they proceed to several Blasphemies. They say other Prayers, at which they scarce move their lips; when they do this they stand three and three upon a Mat, lifting up their Eyes to Heaven three Times, and bowing down their Heads to the Ground. The Dutch Author, who gives this Account, does not mention any other Religion in this Island, nor in any of the others their Fleets touch’d at; tho’ it is so well known, that the Catholick Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ has been preach’d many Years before, throughout them all, with the Glory of Martyrdom; but those People conceal it, to what Intent is well known.