270 ALBINOS OR CIIACRELATS. [1697. 



Women as at Batavia, I am apt to imagine, for I forgot to 

 inform my self of it, that tliey do not bring all those Slaves 

 from the Coasts of Guinea, where they have all large flat 

 Noses, and thick Lips ; but however it be, I met at Batavia, 

 divers very pretty Ncgro-WovaQw, with Faces much like ours 

 of Europe, large brilliant Eyes, wonderful white Teeth, fine 

 Shapes, beautiful and soft Breasts, as were likewise all the 

 other parts of their Bodies, tho' black as Jett. If one would 

 but consider that this Complexion is, in a manner, un- 

 alterable, not being subject to any of those Palenesses, 

 Eednesses, Freckles, and the like disadvantages which the 

 "White Women continually undergo ; and if we moreover 

 remember that the Black Colour has its Lustre and Value, 

 as well as any other, we must cease to wonder at their Tast 

 who love a fine Negro-1^ oiwixw as much, or rather more than 

 a White one. 



There are so few Moors in this Island, altho' they have a 

 Quarter assign'd them at Batavia, that it is hardly worth 

 speaking any more of them, than of private Persons of other 

 Nations who come to Traffick there, or to accompany 

 Ambassadors. 



I have been very sorry for forgetting to inform my self 

 particularly of tlie People^ call'd Ghacrelats at Batavia, of 

 whom I have seen several, both Men and Women. They 

 are white and fair, but what is most Eemarkable in them, is 

 that their Eyes cannot endure the Light, and they always 

 see best a-nights, so that they turn Night into Day, and Day 

 into Night. I have often met of them trudging along with 

 their Eyes almost shut,^ because they were not able to look 

 on the Light. 



After having continu'd near a year at Batavia, we departed 

 from thence with the Holland Fleet,^ consisting of seventeen 



1 In orig. : " la Nation." 



2 In orig. : " quoique vers le soir," omitted by translator. 



3 "The homeward-bound Dutch East India ComiJany's ships were 



