382 DESCRIPTION OF BATAVIA CHAP, xvn 



unable to perform their duty ; but could a very small body 

 of men get quickly to the walls of Batavia, bringing with them 

 a few battering cannon, the town must inevitably yield on 

 account of the weakness of its defence. 



We were told that of a hundred soldiers, who arrive here 

 from Europe, it is a rare thing for fifty to outlive the first 

 year ; and that of those fifty half will by that time be in the 

 hospitals, and of the other half not ten in perfect health. 

 Whether this account may not be exaggerated I cannot say, 

 but will venture to affirm that it seemed to me probable 

 from the number of pale faces, and limbs hardly able to 

 support a musket, which I saw among the few soldiers to 

 be seen upon duty. The white inhabitants indeed are all 

 soldiers, and those who have served five years are liable to 

 be called out on any occasion ; but as they are never 

 exercised or made to do any kind of duty, it is impossible 

 to expect much from men more versed in handling pens 

 than guns. The Portuguese are generally good marksmen, 

 as they employ themselves much in shooting wild hogs and 

 deer ; as for the Mardykers, who are certainly numerous 

 being Indians of all nations who are, or whose ancestors 

 have been, freed slaves few, either of them or of the 

 Chinese, know the use of firearms. Their numbers, however, 

 might be troublesome, as some of them are esteemed brave 

 with their own weapons, lances, swords, daggers, etc. 



Thus much for the land. By sea it is impossible to 

 attack Batavia, on account of the shallowness of the water, 

 which will scarcely suffer even a long-boat to come within 

 cannon-shot of the walls, unless she keep a narrow channel 

 walled in on both sides by strong piers, and running about 

 half a mile into the harbour, which channel terminates 

 exactly under the fire of the strongest part of the Castle. 

 At this point there is a large wooden boom, which is shut 

 every night at six o'clock, and not opened again till morn- 

 ing under any pretence. It is said that before the earth- 

 quake in [1699] ships of large burthen used to come up to 

 this place, and be stopped by the boom, but at present only 

 boats attempt it. 



