382 DESCRIPTION OF BATAVIA CHAP. XVII 
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. 
