Book M. Travels in I NDI 



A. 



themfelves of a Stratagem j to which purpofe they fent away two Ships where- 

 in they ftor'd the beft of their Souldiers, who pretending they had been in a 

 ftorm in Sea, put into the Harbour of Pormofa, with fome of their Mafts bv 

 the board, their Sails fcatter'd, and their Seamen feemingly fick. The EnalJh 

 compafiionating their miferies, which was only in outward appearance, invited 

 the chief of them to come afhore to refrefh themfelves ; which they were 

 very ready to do, carrying as many men with them as poflibly they could 

 under pretence of ficknefs. While the chief of them were at Dinner with 

 the chief of the EygUjfr, they all ply'd their Cups j and when the Dutch faw 

 the EngUJh had drunk hard enough, taking their opportunity, they pickt a quar- 

 rel with the Commander of the Fort, and drawing their Swords, which thev 

 had hidden under their Coats for that purpofe, they eafily furpriz'd and cut 

 all the throats of the Soldiers in the Garrhon ; and being thus Mafters of the 

 Fort, they kept it from that time till they were routed out by the Chinefcs. 



Now for the trick that the King of Achen ferv'd the Sieur Renaud ; he ha- 

 ving got a good Eftatc by Jewels, arriv'd at length at Achen, and as it is the 

 cultom for the Merchants to fhew the King what Jewels they have, the King 

 had no fooner call his eye upon four Rings which the Sieur Renaud fhew'd 

 him, but he bid him fifteen thoufand Crowns for them ; bùt Renaud would 

 not bate of eighteen thoufand. Now becaufe they could not agree, the Sieur 

 Renaud carry'd them away with him, which very much difpleas'd the King j 

 however he fent for him the next day. Whereupon Renaud returning to him, 

 the King paid him his eighteen thoufand Crowns ; but he was never lèen after 

 that, and it is thought he was fecretly murther'd in the Palace. 



This itory came to my remembrance, when I found my Brother did not 

 çome along with thofe that were lent to fetch me. However I refolv'd to go; 

 taking with me 12 or 13000 Roupies worth" of Jewels ; the greateit part be- 

 ing in Rofe Diamopd Rings, fome confifting of leven, fbme of .nine, and fomç 

 of eleven Stones 5 with fome final J Bracelets of Diamonds and Rubies, I found 

 the King, with three of his Captains and my Brother fitting together, after the 

 manner of the Eait,with five great Phtes of Rice before them of divers colours. For 

 their drink they had Spanljh Wine, icrong Waters, and r.veral forts of Sherbets. A£* 

 ter I had complemented the fCing, and presented him with a -Diamond Ring, 

 a blew Saphir Ring, and a little B.acelet of Diamonds, Rubies, and blew Sa- 

 phirs,! he commanded me to ft down, and order'd me a glafs of ftrong Wa- 

 ter to whet my appetite, the glafs held a quarter of a pint, and therefore I 

 refus'd it, vyhich the King very much wonder'd at ; but being told by my Bro- 

 ther,', that I never drank any itrong Water, he order'd me prefently a glafs of 

 Sack. - ■ ; ■ ... .. " . . £ am 



After that he rofe up, and feated himfelf in a Chair, the Elbows whereof 

 were guilded. His feet and legs were bare, having a Perfian Carpet of Gold 

 and Silk to tread upon. He was clad with a piece of Calicut, part whereof 

 cover'd his body from his waite to his knees, the reft being wound about his 

 back and fhoulders like a Scarf. Inftead of Shoes he had a pair of Sandals, 

 that flood by the Chair fide, the ftraps whereof were embroider'd with Gold 

 and fmall Pearl. About his head he had a thing like a Handkerchief, with three 

 Corners, bound about his head like a Fillet. His hair alfo., which was very 

 long, was twitted and ty'd together over his head. Two perfons flood behind 

 him with great Fans of long Peacock Feathers , the handles whereof were 

 five or fix foot in length. Upon his right hand ftood an old black woman, holding 

 in her hand a little Mortar and a Peftle of Gold, to beat his Betti in ; where- 

 with he mix'd the Kernel of the Nut of Araqué and Seed Pearl 

 diffolv'd. When it was all beaten together, the old woman gave it the King 

 over his Shoulders, who opening his mouth, the old woman fed him as our 

 women feed their Children. For the King had chaw'd fo much Betlé 3 and ta- 

 ken- much Tobacco, that his teeth were all fall'n out of his head. 



The King of Bantam's Palace was never built by any curious Architect It is 

 a, fquare place, encompafs'd with a great many Pillars, varnifiYd over with fe- 

 veral forts of colours, againft which the King leans when he fits down. At the 

 four Corners there are four great Pillars fet in the Earthy at forty foot diftance 



