EXPEDITION TO MOLUCCA ISLANDS. O l J 



Government House, though the only one proper for his residence. 

 We dined this day with Mr. Coupertts; there was a large company, 

 and not a bad dinner, allowing for Dutch cooking, of which 1 have 

 not the most delicate idea. Madam Couperus was dressed in the 

 most unbecoming manner possible, a mixture between the Malay 

 and Portuguese, her outward garment being made exactly like a 

 shift, she looked as if she reversed the order of her dress altoge- 

 ther. Her hair was drawn so tight to the crown of her head, and 

 the skin of her forehead so stretched, that she could scarce wink 

 her eyelids ; she seemed however very affable and well bred for a, 

 person never out of Malacca. In the evening she played on the 

 harp, a plain instrument without pedals and only capable of a na- 

 tural key. made at Batavia : she was accompanied by some of her 

 slaves on violins: and altogether made very good music for a 

 Dutchman to sleep to : she shewed betel incessantly, as did the 

 other ladies in company, and every chair in the room was furnished 

 with a cuspidor to spit in, for while the ladies chewed and played, 

 the Dutchmen fcnioked their long pipes and drauk Klein beer. 

 which is some of the best malt liquor I ever tasted. We were at- 

 tended at dinner and during the evening by Malay slaves, male and 

 female, some of the latter rather pretty, considering the general 

 cast of Malay features. CourEErs. 1 am told, has above 130 slaves. 

 which must be a vast, expense to him, and he never sells one. 



December 2nd. — Tie- declaration to dissolve the Dutch Govern- 

 ment, which is to be made in Council, was this day prepared. 



3rd. — After a conference of considerable length between the 



Admiral and Major Brown, the latter was taken ill. and therefore 



, no decision took place respecting the declaration. The Convoy 



arrived this day from Penang; Major Vigors and most of the 



Officers landed. 



4th. — The Admiral, finding Major Drown unable to attend 

 business this day, convened the Dutch Council and dissolved 

 the Government as it stood since our possessing the place, having 

 entered the declaration as a minute in their proceedings. Captain 

 Xewcome was in the ridiculous predicament of sitting as a Member 

 during the dissolution of the Government, though the mode of 

 forming it was partly a measure of his own ; however, 1 believe he 

 concurred much more heartily in its dissolution than establishment. 



