1 697-1 DETAINED IN BATAVIA. 217 



of the Fort.^ The Fleet was ready to depart, but the Council 

 were so busie with other Affairs that they could not find 

 time to look into Ours, so that, on the 14th^ of February 

 1697, the General call'd one of us to him that spoke Dutch, 

 and told him that the time was too short to examine our 

 Pretensions, and that we should not return into Holland 

 before pressing Affairs were determin'd ; that we must suffer 

 this Fleet to depart, and that if our business could not be 

 effected in five or six Weeks' time,^ our worst would be to 

 remain at Batavia for a year, or thereabouts, where by reason 

 we were stript of all, we should be listed for Soldiers, and 

 allow'd Pay to the day of our Arrival in Holland} The 

 General added, that in that time he would dispatch a Vessel 



^ Vide infra. 



2 In orig. : " le 4nie Janvier." 



3 In orig. : " (auquel temps deux Vaisseaux que I'on attendoit de- 

 voient repartir)," omitted by translator. 



* " The Dutch", writes Le Sieur Luillier, in 1701, " are the wealthiest 

 the strongest, and the greatest dealers of all Europeans in India, for 

 they have never less than forty ships, and often more, trading con- 

 tinually from one place to another ; with the produce whereof, and 

 revenue of their dominions, they every year load thirteen or fourteen 

 tall ships for Europe, whence as many come yearly, and so return, but 

 they change their crews. For as soon as a commander comes from 

 Europe, they put him into another ship, and those who have been three 

 years in the service return home if they please. In order whereto they 

 present a petition to the Council, which never rejects it, if the peti- 

 tioners are fit to return ; and if there be not so many as to supply all 

 the ships that are to return to Europe, the Governor consults who are 

 the properest to be sent, that is, such as have made the best of their 

 time, and are best able when they come home to maintain their families. 

 The Dutch Company would have all that are in its service to thrive, 

 and if any officer does not look after his own private business he is little 

 look'd upon ; the Hollanders believing that he who neglects his own 

 will not be diligent in another's concerns. Thus, unless a commander 

 appears industrious in laying up for himself, he is very rarely preferr'd, 

 and must not hope to return home 'till he has made some provision, the 

 Council never regarding the petitions he presents ; so that he must stay 



