OcT. 1770 LAND AT BATAVIA 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 Van Heys, 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-dollarsa 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 :— 
3. ad 
Claret 3 ‘ 3 2 389 stivers 3 3 
Hock : A : ‘ lrixt 4 0 
Lisbon . 3 39 stivers 38 3 
Sweet wine j F F 39°C, 3 3 
Madeira. . . ‘ 1 rupee 2 6 
Beer ‘ i ‘ ‘ Le a3 2 6 
Spa water . 2 : : 1 rixt 4 0 
Besides this we were to pay for our servants 4 a rupee 
(1s. 3d.) a day each. 
For these rates, which we soon found! 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. : 
