OCT. 1770 LAND AT BAT AVI A 367 



might live wherever we pleased. After having asked leave 

 of the Council, which was never refused, we might therefore, 

 if we chose it, take a house in any part of the town, and 

 bringing our own servants ashore, might keep it, which 

 would be much cheaper than living at the hotel, provided 

 we had anybody on whom we could depend to buy our 

 provisions. As this was not the case, having none with us 

 who understood the Malay language, we concluded that the 

 hotel would be the best for us, certainly the least trouble- 

 some, and maybe not much the most expensive ; accordingly, 

 we went there, bespoke beds, and slept there at night. 



The next day we agreed with the keeper of the house, 

 whose name was Yan Keys, as to the rates we should pay 

 for living, as follows (for this he agreed, as we were five of 

 us, who would probably have many visitors from the ship, 

 to keep us a separate table). For ourselves we were to pay 

 two rix-dollars a day each ; and for each stranger we were 

 to pay one rix- dollar (4s.) for dinner, and another for 

 supper and bed if he stayed ashore. We were to have also 

 for ourselves and friends, tea, coffee, punch, pipes and 

 tobacco, as much as we could consume ; in short, everything 

 the house afforded, except wine and beer, which we were to 

 pay for at the following rates : 



s. d. 



Claret .... 39 stivers 3 3 



Hock .... 1 rixf. 4 



Lisbon .... 39 stivers 3 3 



Sweet wine . . . 39 , , 33 



Madeira .... 1 rupee 2 6 



Beer .... 1 26 



Spa water . . . . 1 rixF. 40 



Besides this we were to pay for our servants |- a rupee 

 (Is. 3d.) a day each. 



For these rates, which we soon found 1 to be more than 

 double the common charges of boarding and lodging in the 

 town, we were furnished with a table which under the 

 appearance of magnificence was wretchedly covered ; indeed, 



1 The Journal at Batavia, until the 21st at least, was evidently not written 

 up day by day. 



