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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XL 



His social position, however (having once been admitted 

 as Adelborst), entitled him to an officer's commission even- 

 tually, but he never rose beyond the rank of corporal. 



The following particulars regarding the conditions of 

 enlistment under the Dutch East India Company, and the 

 discipline, &c, on board their fleets, are worth reproducing. 



The Company sent three fleets every year to the East, one in 

 May, another in August, and the last about the end of December. 



Two months' pay was given in advance, and for every day 

 between enlistment and sailing an additional Dutch shilling. 

 After the fleet had been at sea for two or three days, every one 

 received five Dutch cheeses as a present from the Company. 

 Full pay for soldiers only commenced from the time of pass- 

 ing the buoys, about a mile (Dutch) out at sea ; but, should 

 the ships have had to put back owing to unfavourable 

 winds, the two months' advance pay was forfeited. Some- 

 times in winter, ships were laid up altogether, and the soldiers 

 discharged to save further expense. The pay was fixed at 

 ten Dutch florins a month ; the loss of the right eye, hand, 

 arm, or foot, to be compensated by the payment of 600 Dutch 

 florins ; the left eye, &c, being valued at 500 florins only ; 

 whilst the loss of a finger or toe was computed at 30 florins. 



On board, crew and soldiers were told off to watches, three 

 in all, and each lasting four hours. The first watch was 

 then called Prinsen quartier,—i. e., "Prince's quarter," — 

 the second Count Moritz, the third Count Ernst, the names 

 referring to Princes of the House of Orange of the time. 

 Discipline on board was very strict. Of the detail Saars 

 gives, a few may be mentioned. 



When any one was wilfully injured by knife, gun, or other 

 weapon, the aggressor had to place his hand against the mast ; 

 a knife (if possible the one with which the wound was 

 inflicted) was then driven between two fingers into the mast, 

 and the culprit was compelled to draw his hand down, thus 

 completely severing it in two. For striking an officer or 

 the captain of the ship, the penalty was " keel-hauling" — 

 % e*, being drawn three times underneath the vessel. If the 



