THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TULIP, AND THE TULIPOMANIA. 25 



would produce, and in the event of the same turning out different from 

 that expected, it could not be asserted with certainty that fraud had 

 been committed. That such fraudulent practices occurred we have 

 ample evidence in " Het t' Zamenspraeken, between Waermondt en 

 Gaergoedt." Gaergoedt says, " It is right that last year I bought a bulb 

 or two that are not what I bought them for, but what is that compared to 

 the numbers bought? " but Waermondt says that his cousin had spoken 

 to people who had bought pounds (in weight) of bulbs purporting to be 

 of such varieties as ' Crowns,' but which were nothing better than early 

 double coloured, and even single colours that one may see in any garden. 



The " t' Zamenspraeken," or three conversations between Waermondt 

 and Gaergoedt, was published first in 1687 at Haarlem by Adrian Roman, 

 and purports to be the conversations of two weavers, and from these 

 conversations we learn the way business was transacted during the craze. 

 Bulbs that sold at so much each, or by the dozen, were now sold by weight 

 of so many azen (fig. 5), a small weight less than a grain, in the same 

 way as gold or diamonds. In growing numbers tradesmen and artificers 

 adopted the calling of cultivators and dealers of Tulips, selling their 

 tools and their business, and borrowing money on their houses. The 

 constantly increasing profits from their speculations were to be ample 

 compensation for everything, and now began in earnest the Tulip mania. 

 At the commencement bulbs were sold at the time of delivery from the 

 end of June, when they were taken out of the ground, to September, when 

 it was time to plant them again ; later the business extended over the 

 whole year, delivery in summer being agreed upon. As now the prices 

 varied according to the demand ; speculators contrived to get the Tulip 

 trade into their hands ; the bulbs became therefore a secondary con- 

 sideration as bulbs, and became the object of a regular exchange and 

 gamble. 



Collegiums or clubs were formed and held at the inns, which became 

 Tulip exchanges, and we learn that there were two methods of 

 conducting business. The one as selling "met de Borden or Schijven," 

 the other "in het Ootjen." The first is described by Gaergoedt, who says 

 to Waermondt : " If you wish I will sell you a ' Cargasoentje,' and 

 because you are a good man and my special friend, you may have it for 

 fifty florins less than I would take from anyone else, and if you do not 



Fig. 7. — The Fool's Wagon. 



The original of this rare print, painted probably by Hendrik Pot, who, according 

 to Burger Musees de la Holland, was from 1633-1639 lieutenant in the Guards at 

 Haarlem, shows us a chaise-like car, in the middle of which a sail is fastened, and 

 this, moved along by the wind, carries Flora, who in her arm holds a horn of plenty 

 in which are Tulip blooms, and in her left hand three blooms—' Semper Augustus,' 

 ' General Bol,' and ' Admiral van Horn.' In the body of the car are three florists 

 decked out with Tulip blooms, and who are named " Good-for-nothing," " Eager 

 Rich," and " Tippler." In the front of the car are two women, one named " Save 

 All " (Miser) and the other " Idle Hope," and from whom the bird Hope has escaped. 



A crowd runs after the car, calling out " We will all sail with you," and in their 

 eagerness discard and trample on their weaving-looms, &c. In the foreground are 

 various Tulip blooms, and on the extreme right is a similar sailing car wrecked. At 

 the corner of the picture are small insets showing Pottebackers Garden and Club 

 rooms at Haarlem and Hoorn. 



