2o6 
B A T A V I A. 
We had scarcely set foot in the house when a processioii 
of slaves made its appearance, with Avine and gin, cordials, 
cakes and sweetmeats ; a ceremony that was repeated to 
every new guest who arrived. After waiting a couple of 
hours the signal for dinner was given by the entrance of three 
female slaves, one with a large silver bason, the second with 
a jar of the same metal filled with rose water for washing the 
liands, and the third with towels for wiping them. The com- 
pany was very numerous and, the weather being remarkably 
close, the velvet coats and powdered wigs were now thrown 
aside, and their places supplied with short dimity jackets 
and muslin night-caps. I certainly do not remember ever to 
have seen an European table so completely loaded with what 
V^an Weegerman w^as pleased to call poison and pestilence. 
Fish boiled and broiled, fowls in curries and pillaws, turkies 
and large capons, joints of beef boiled and roasted and 
stewtd, soups, puddings, custards, and all kinds of pastry, 
were so crowded and jumbled together that there was scarcely 
any room for plates. Of the several kinds of dishes there was 
generally a pair : a turkey on one side had its brother turkey 
on the other, and capon stared at capon. A slave was 
placed behind the chair of each guest, besides those who 
handed round wine, gin, cordials, and Dutch or Danish 
beer, all of which are used profusely by the Dutch under an 
idea that, by promoting perspiration, they carry off in some 
degree the effects of the poison and pestilence. After dinner 
an elegant desert was served up of Chinese pastry, fruits in 
great variety, and sweetmeats. There were not any ladies in 
company. Van Weegerman being a bachelor had no 
females in his house, except his haram of slaves amounting to 
about fifty in number, assorted from the difierent nations of 
