36 
[No. 1, 
J. M. Poster — Note on Ghargaon, Asam. 
In a work styled ‘ Tales of Shipwrecks and Adventures at Sea., London, 
2nd Edit., 1852,’ at page 705, under the heading, “ Loss of the ‘ Ter Schelling,’ 
including the various calamities of the crew, during an unfortunate voyage 
to Bengal in 1661,” we find the following record of the progress of the 
Emir’s army in Assam as related by some Dutch sailors who went to 
Ghargaon. The ‘ Ter Schelling’ left Batavia for Bengal on the 3rd Septem- 
ber, 1661, in company with two other vessels. On the 18th October, 
they sighted the coast of Bengal, parted company, got caught in a heavy 
storm, and struck several times on the sandbanks in the Sunderban£ They 
were' finally wrecked, and the crew suffered great privations on the desert 
islands. Ultimately, eight of the crew (Charles Dohbcl and seven others) left 
the islands in a boat, and travelled for many days, until picked .up by some of 
the natives who took them to a village after plundering them of all money, &c. 
The ‘ Governor’ treated them kindly and forwarded them to Bolwa [Bhaluah]. 
The narrative will be best continued in the original text. ‘ The night follow- 
ing they arrived at Assam [?], a poor despicable place that afforded nothing. 
Here they sent hack the three barques and hired another as far as Bolwa. 
At two leagues’ distance from this village, their guides set them on shore, 
and made them walk the rest of the way. Whilst these guides went to the 
governor to give notice of their arrival, our adventurers bought milk and rice, 
which they dressed in a pot that was sent them by Moors, that spoke the 
Portuguese language. It was nearly ready when their guides returned, and 
told them they must come immediately to the prince, who sent for them. 
This news displeased them, for their appetites were very keen ; however they 
took the pot, and carried it by turns to the prince’s palace gate ; where they 
eat what was in it before they entered. They were at length brought to 
their lodging, and, by the prince’s order, served with an exoellent kind of 
meat called brensie [harisah, ?], which is only seen here at great men’s tables. 
This was such a nourishing food, that in three or four days they recovered 
their full strength. In a day or two after, the prince sent them word that 
they might go where they pleased, the barques being ready. This being 
then’ desire they parted an horn* after, and happily arrived at Decka. The 
factory received them very kindly, to whom our adventurers imparted their 
whole story. 
“ The governor now caused a barque to be ready to transport them to 
Ongueli [Hugli], where the Dutch have also a considerable factory. But an 
hour before the appointed time of their departure, the governorreceived a letter 
from the Great Mogul’s general, in which he enjoined him to send them to 
him. This order they were obliged to obey, though contrary to their in- 
clinations ; for this general threatened, in case of refusal, to seize upon all the 
Dutch in his master’s kingdom, and make them slaves. They travelled thirty 
days together, sometimes by land, and sometimes by sea, passing by se- 
