332 



HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



thus mixed with their saliva, is put into a tub, and water is added 

 to it. They have a superstitious opinion that the older the women 

 are who chew the maize, by so much will the beverage be the 

 better. And with this drink the natives get intoxicated and 

 celebrate their festivals." 



Soon after, Van Noort's ship gave chase to a Spaniard, which 

 it was important to take, lest she might spread the alarm along 

 the coast. She proved l°> be the Good Jesus, and to be stationed 

 there expressly to give early notice of the arrival of strange 

 sails. She was taken, and a prize-master placed on board to 

 navigate her. One of the prisoners stated afterwards, that ten 

 thousand pounds' weight of gold had been thrown overboard 

 during her flight; and this was corroborated by the pilot, who at 

 first denied it, but, upon being put to the torture, confessed. 

 Van Noort now steered for the Philippines, by way of the La- 

 drones. On the 30th of June, the pilot of the Good Jesus, 

 who ate at the admiral's table, was taken ill, and accused Van 

 Noort of wishing to poison him, and maintained the charge in 

 presence of the officers. He was sentenced to be cast head 

 foremost into the sea, — the established Dutch mode of punishing 

 pirates. "We therefore threw him overboard," says the journal, 

 " and left him to sink, to the end that he should not ever again 

 reproach us with any treachery." The Good Jesus now lost her 

 rudder, and, being very leaky, was abandoned in mid-ocean. 



While Van Noort was thus making his way towards Manilla, 

 preparations were making at that place for defence. Cavite, 

 ; ,he port, was fortified ; two galleons were ordered to be armed 

 and equipped. The Dutch squadron arrived off" the entrance of 

 the bay on the 24th of November, and Van Noort determined 

 to remain there till February, to intercept all vessels bound in. 

 He soon stopped a Japanese vessel, laden with iron and hams. 

 He allowed her to proceed, having first purchased a wooden 

 anchor. He remarks in the journal that he saw Japanese 

 scimetars which could cut through three men at a blow, and 



