1767. December. Thursd. 17. prise at my having got under fail, and asked me what I intended to have done; I told them that I intended neither more nor lefs than to fulfil the declarations. I had made the day before; that juftified by the common rights of mankind, which were fuperior to every other law, I would, rather than have put again to fea, where our destruction, either by shipwreck, fickness, or famine, was inevitable, have come up to their walls, and either have compelled them to furnish the neceffaries we wanted, or have run the ship on fhore, fince it was better to perish at once in a just contest, than to fuffer the lingering mifery of anticipating the perdition that we could not avoid. I observed also, that no civilized people had ever fuffered even the captives of war to perifh for want of the neceffaries of life, much less the subjects of an ally, who asked nothing but permiffion to purchase food with their money. They readily allowed the truth of all I had faid, but feemed to think I had been too hafty: I then observed that I had waited the full time of my ftipulation, and they in return made fome excufe for their not having come fooner, telling me that, as a proof of their having admitted my claim, they had brought me fuch provifions as their country would afford. These were immediately taken on board, and confifted of two sheep, an elk ready killed, and a few fowls, with fome vegetables L 4 and 1767. December. and fruit. This moft welcome fupply was divided among the people, and that most falutary, Thurid, 17: and to us exquifite dainty, broth, made for the fick. Another letter from the governor was then produced, in which, to my great difappointment, I was again ordered to leave the port, and to justify the order, it was alleged, that to fuffer a fhip of any nation to stay and trade, either at this port, or any other part of the island, was contrary to the agreement which had been made by the East India Company with the native kings and governors of the country, who had already expreffed fome difpleafure, on our ac count; and for farther particulars I was referred to the gentlemen that brought the letter, whom the governor ftyled his commiffaries, To these gentlemen I immediately observed, that no ftipulation concerning trade could affect us, as we were a king's fhip; at the fame time I produced my commiffion, it not being poffible to bring under the article of trade the felling us food and refreshments for our money, without the utmost violence to language and common fense. After this they made me several propofitions, which I rejected, because my departure from this place, before the return of the season, was included in them all. I then recurred to my former declaration, and to enforce it, shewed them the corpfe of a man who had died that morning, and whofe life would, probably have been been faved, if they had afforded us refreshments when we first came to an anchor upon their coaft. This put them to a ftand, but after a fhort pause, they inquired very particularly whether I had been among the fpice iflands; I anfwered them in the negative, and they ap peared to be convinced that I spoke truth. After this we came to a better understanding, and they told me, that though they could not, without difobedience to the most direct and pofitive orders of the Company, fuffer us to remain here, yet that I was welcome to go to a little bay not far diftant, where I should find effectual fhelter from the bad monfoon, and might erect an hofpital for my fick, affuring me at the fame time that provision and refreshments were more plenty there than at Macaffar, from whence, whatever elfe I wanted fhould be fent me, and offering me a good pilot to carry me to my station. To this I gladly confented, upon condition that what they had offered fhould be confirmed to me by the governor and council of Macaffar, that I might be confidered as under the protection of the Dutch nation, and that no violence should be offered to my people: for all this they engaged their honour on behalf of the governor and council, promifing me the affurance I had required on the next day, and requesting that in the mean time I would remain where I was. I then inquired why the two 1767. December. Thurid. 17. 1767. December. Thurid. 17. Friday 18. two veffels which were at anchor under our bows were allotted to that ftation; and they told me, for no other reafon than to prevent the people of the country from offering us any violence. When matters were thus far fettled between us, I expreffed my concern that, except a glass of wine, I could prefent them with nothing better than bad falt meat, and bread full of weevils, upon which they very politely defired that I would permit their fervants to bring in the victuals which had been dreffing in their own veffel; I readily confented, and a very genteel dinner was foon ferved up, confifting of fish, flesh, vegetables, and fruit. It is with the greatest pleasure that I take this opportunity of acknowledging my obligations to these gentlemen for the politeness and humanity of their behaviour in their private capacity, and particularly to Mr. Douglas, who being qualified by his knowledge of the French language to interpret between us, undertook that office with a courtefy and politeness which very much increased the value of the favour. After this we parted, and at their leaving the ship, I faluted them with nine guns. The next morning the fhebander was fent to acquaint me, that the governor and council had confirmed the engagement which had been made with me on their behalf. Every thing was now fettled much to my fatisfaction, except the pro the government 1767. December. curing money for my bills upon of Great Britain, which the fhebander faid he would folicit. At eight o'clock in the evening, Friday 18. he came on board again, to let me know that there was not any perfon in the town who had money to remit to Europe, and that there was not a dollar in the Company's chest. I answered, that as I was not permitted to go on fhore to negociate my bills myself, I hoped they would give me credit, offering him bills for any debt I should contract, or to pay it at Batavia, To this the fhebander replied, that the resident at Bonthain, the, place to which I was going, would receive orders to fupply me with whatever I should want, and would be glad to take my bills in return, as he had money to remit, and was himself to go to Europe the next feafon. He told me also, that he had confiderable property in England, being a denison of that country; and, faid the fhebander, he has alfo "money in my hands, with which I will pur chafe fuch things as you want from Macaffar, and fee that they are fent after you." Having specified what these articles were to be, and agreed with him for the quantity and the price, we parted. The next day, in the afternoon, I received a Saturd. 19. letter, figned by the governor and council of Macaffar, containing the reasons why I was fent to Bonthain, and confirming the verbal agreement which fubfifted between us. |