Inscriptions left bi/ Kuril/ European N<ir><i<i/nrs. 15 



William Edwards, writing to the East India Company on June 28, 

 1614, says : " Found, as the custom is, advice of divers of our ships 

 that had lately touched there (Table Bay) both outward and home- 

 ward (viz.) the Draijon arriving there the 20th February, 1613, 

 departing thence the 6th March next, homeward." 



The Dragon was one of the vessels of Reeling's fleet of 1615, and 

 had on board the factor, Thomas Arthington, who in a letter to the 

 Company dated from Saldania, June 18, 1615, and sent by the home- 

 ward-bound vessel the Hope, mentions that " Ten of the condemned 

 men set willingly ashore at Saldania." 



From 1601 to 1612 the shareholders or subscribers to the 

 concern that became eventually the East India Company, founded 

 on December 31, 1600, bore individually the cost of the voyage 

 of each venture ; and the profit or loss resulting therefrom was 

 theirs. 



It is only in, or about, the year 1612 that these ventures were 

 conducted on the joint-stock system, and it is on record that the 

 Concord from London, the first ship of the Company sent on this 

 new system, was met in Table Bay by Captain John Saris, homeward 

 bound, on May 16, 1614. 



For this reason the records of "calls" anterior to 1612 are 

 not very complete, and the dates are possibly somewhat inaccurate, 

 owing to the then partly acceptance of the Gregorian computa- 

 tion, 25th of March to 24th of March, instead of 1st January to 

 31st December. 



It seems, however, established that the lied Drcujon, Hcct< i\ 

 Ascension, and the Susan, under Sir Henry Middleton, anchored 

 July 17, 1604. " Cole, master of the Hector, was drowned. Sailed 

 August 20th." This was the second voyage of the English Company. 

 The upper inscription of Stone 6 records the return voyage of the 

 Hector. 



In 1605 the English Captain Sir Edward Michelburne came to 

 Saldania Bay (read Table Bay) with the Tigre and Tnjres WJn-1/'. 

 and stayed there from April 9th to May 3rd. The natives 

 brought him so much cattle that he took some to sea ; for a piece of 

 an old iron hoop he bought a large bullock. 



In 1607 William Keeling came to " Salania," and bought much 

 cattle. He found the natives very bold and daring. On a rock he 

 saw engraved the words: "Captain Middleton, in the Consent, 

 24th July, 1907." 



In the same year Captain D. Middleton, a brother of Sir Henry of 

 that name, called here also, and obtained much cattle. 



