29 



the territory Along ibe coast cQme under the s iiper inter) den ce 

 of ihft Dutch. TJiey then erected forta and defences, and 

 encroached more and more, qm ihe silk-worms devour the 

 leaves; until their military defencen ate now become very 

 strict, having a guard-houae, Jaga ^ Jak-gi,) at every 

 gate ; while ttiek centinele k«ep iacessant watch, niglit and 

 dfty, never laying aeide their weaponi, so that the whole year 

 round we never hear of thievii. 

 Tliey have also establiahed a poor-houie, Miskiii § 

 n^-sek-kln). for the reception and roainten^ince of Btck 

 and destitute persons. Whenever a person comes to die, 

 who has no near relatives t%i hand^ he Fendi for a notary 



ncdnr^-ta), who draws up a teatament ftc^jording to tlic 

 desire of the aick person, which is as ^rm as iron and never 

 departed from ; thii will is then delivered to the orphan 

 chamber, Weetkarafer, (^ S "H" Be-sek-kam), to be depoai- 

 led there, until the relatives of the deceaied come to claim tlie 

 the property, which is paid over with the annual interest j ^9 

 well as the proceeds of the sale of houses or lands, alAve-meo 

 or slave- wo men, and the account of all debta due to the es- 

 tate, diaiincily arranffcd, witliont confusion j the leaei failure 

 in which would lead to tlie iTOprisonment of the parties^ 



There Is also a Commissary J{f ^ ^ Kong-put-ea- 

 le), who is charged with tlie Buperintcndence of all places in 

 the interior : beeides which they have a collector of customs, 

 Shabbandnr (Jjjjj || ^ Si'm.ban-tat) who talcea care of all 

 alTairs relating to the port. There are also oui^r and inner 

 inafiiatrates or tcimonggon^ (J^JJ ^ lam-ptin-kong), 

 who regulate matters in the city and suburbs. The fluwery 

 Chinese, and every descriplioo of foreigners, have all got 

 Captains -J^" Knp-piutan), placed over them, who are 



charged with the regulation of affairs belonging to their owti 

 countrymen, while great offences and capital crimes, are all 

 given over to the Dutcli to decide. The laws and regulations 

 are carefully drawn up and rigidly executed, which is one 

 cause of their perpetuity. 



