VALENTYN’S ACCOUNT OF MALACCA. 229 
last, notwithstanding the wretched state in which they were. 
This stubborn, nay savage resolution of the enemy, caused 
the destruction in the month of December, 1640, and January, 
1641, of a great number of people; besides which, many of 
the besieged, emaciated with hunger and unable any longer 
to resist, fled to our army. They informed us that there 
were in the town not more than 200 Europeans and only 400 
or 500 Eurasians, and that victuals were so scarce that a gan- 
tang(*) of rice was sold for 10 rix dollars, and a pound of dried 
cow’s or buffalo’s hide for 5 or 6 crusados,(?) and that it was 
very hard to get them even at that price. This want compel- 
led the enemy to expel most unmercifully from the place many 
women and children and all useless mouths; famine was so 
prevalent that a mother actually exhumed the body of her 
own child and after having kept it for two days was driven 
by the pangs of hunger to eat it, to the consternation of all 
who heard of it. 
Notwithstanding the wretched state of things in our camp, 
our people, greatly encouraged by the consistent reports of 
the extreme distress of the town, kept up their courage pretty 
well, though we had not only lost a large number of common 
soldiers, but also several brave men and chief officers of the 
army. Among these last ones were the Commissioner (Komis- 
sariss) JOHAN DE MEERE (who died on the 8th October), the 
Commander ADRIAAN ANTONISSOON (in November), and his 
successor JACOB KOPER (in the beginning of January, 1641), 
and Captain PIETER VAN DEN BROEK (the same who, as Direct- 
or of Suratte and as the founder of the trade with Persia and 
the Red Sea, had retired to his native country with the rank 
of Chief Admiral, but, not having come very well out of 
these affairs, was sent here by his friend General VAN DIEMEN). 
Most of these men died from lingering diseases, and from the 
great hardships they had suffered here. 
By this successive decease of our Commanders we soon 
felt the want of proper men for Commanders of our troops, 
and in the absence of more distinguished officers (the whole 
of the Secret Council having died and a new one having been 
(1) A gallon. 
(2) Marked with a cross on one face, 
