A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels Volume Ix Part 2

MINNA MOTTONO.

_Yei. Ye. Yeas_.[20]

[Footnote 20: Kempper writes this other name of _Ongosio Sama_, as he calls him, _Ijejas_; which, according to the English orthography, is _Iyeyas_.--Astl. I. 489. b.]

On the 11th of September, the present intended for the mint-master was delivered to him, which he received very thankfully, and sent me in return two j.a.panese gowns of taffeta, quilted with silk cotton. The 12th Mr Adams was sent to the mint-master, who is the emperor's merchant, having charge of the mint and all the ready money, being in great estimation with the emperor, as he had made a vow, whenever the emperor dies, to cut out his own bowels and die with him. The purpose of Mr Adams waiting upon him at this time, was to carry a list of the prices of our English commodities. About noon of this same day, being furnished with horses and men by the emperor, as formerly specified, we set out for Jedo. The country between Surunga and Jedo we found well peopled, with many _Fotoquis_, or idol temples. Among others which we pa.s.sed, was one having an image of great reputation, called _Dabis_, made of copper, hollow within, but of substantial thickness. We estimated its height to be twenty-one or twenty-two feet, being in the form of a man kneeling on the ground, and sitting on his heels; the whole of wonderful size, and well proportioned, and being dressed in a gown cast along with the figure. Some of our men went into the inside of this idol, and hooped and hallooed, which made an exceeding great noise. It is highly reverenced by all native travellers who pa.s.s that way. We found many characters and marks made upon it by its visitors, which some of my followers imitated, making their marks in like manner. This temple and idol stand in the main road of pilgrimage to _Tencheday_, which is much frequented for devotion, as both night and day people of all ranks and conditions are continually going or returning from that place.

Mr Adams told me that he had been at the _Fotoqui_, or temple dedicated to Tencheday, to which image they make this devout pilgrimage. According to his report, one of the fairest virgins of the country is brought monthly into that _Fotoqui_, and there sits alone in a room neatly fitted up, in a sober manner; and, at certain times, this _Tencheday_, who is thought to be the devil, appears unto her, and having carnally known her, leaves with her at his departure certain scales, like unto the scales of fishes. Whatever questions she is desired by the _bonzes_, or priests of the _Fotoqui_, to ask, _Tencheday_ resolves. Every month a fresh virgin is provided for the temple, but Mr Adams did not know what became of the former.[21]

[Footnote 21: The editor of Astley's Collection, vol. I. p. 487, note b.

very gravely informs his readers what they certainly are aware of, that the gallant must have been one of the _bonzes_, or priests.--E.]

We arrived at _Jedo_ on the 14th September. This city is much larger than _Surunga_, and much better and more sumptuously built, and made a very glorious appearance to us on our approach; all the ridge-tiles and corner-tiles of the roofs being richly gilded and varnished, as also the door-posts of the houses. They have no gla.s.s in their windows, but have large windows of board, opening in leaves, and well adorned with paintings, as in Holland. In the chief street of the town there is a great _cawsay_ all through from end to end, underneath which flows a river, or large stream of water; and at every fifty paces there is a well-head, or pit, substantially built of free-stone, having buckets with which the inhabitants draw water, both for their ordinary uses and in case of fire. This street is as broad as any of our best streets in England.

On the 15th I gave notice of my arrival to _Sadda-dona_, the secretary of the young king, or son of the emperor, requesting him to inform the king. I had access to the king on the 17th, and delivered to him the presents sent by our king, as also some from myself, as is the custom of the country. The king holds his court in the castle of Jedo, which is much stronger and more sumptuous than that of Surunga; and the king was besides better guarded and attended than his father the emperor.

_Saddadona_, his secretary, is father to _Codskedona_ the emperor's secretary, his years and experience fitting him to have the government and direction of the king or prince successor, who appeared to us to be about forty-two years of age.

My entertainment and access to the king here at Jedo was much like that formerly mentioned with the emperor his father at Surunga. He accepted very kindly the letters and presents from our king, bidding me welcome, and desiring me to rest and refresh myself, and that his letters and presents in return should be made ready with all speed. On the 19th I delivered the presents to _Saddadona_. This day, thirty-two men being committed prisoners to a certain house, for not paying their debts, and being in the stocks within the same, it took fire in the night by some casualty, and they were all burnt to death. Towards evening, the king of Jedo sent me two suits of varnished armour, as a present to our king; and sent likewise for myself a _tatch_ and a _waggadash_, the former being a long sword which is only worn in j.a.pan by soldiers of the highest rank, and the latter being a singular weapon resembling a Welsh hook. I was informed that the distance from Jedo to the norther-most part of j.a.pan, was estimated at twenty-two days journey on horseback.

I left Jedo on the 21st September by boat, and came to _Oringgaw_,[22]

a town upon the sea-side, where is an excellent harbour, in which s.h.i.+ps may ride with as much safety as in the river Thames, and the pa.s.sage from which by sea to Jedo is very safe and good; so that it would be much better for our s.h.i.+ps to sail to this port than to Firando, as Oringgaw is on the main island of j.a.pan or _Niphon_, and is only fourteen or fifteen leagues from Jedo, the capital and greatest city of the empire. Its only inconvenience is, that it is not so well supplied with flesh and other victuals as Firando, but is in all other respects much preferable. From thence we proceeded on the 29th to Surunga, where we remained in waiting for the letters and presents from the emperor. On the 8th of October I received the emperor's letter, of which a translation is subjoined, and I then also received the privileges of trade, formerly quoted, the original of which I left with Mr c.o.c.ks.[23]

[Footnote 22: No such place as Oringgaw is to be found in modern maps of j.a.pan. Jedo is situated at the head of a deep gulf of the same name, in the south-east corner of j.a.pan. About the distance indicated in the text, there is a town and bay named _Odavara_, on the western side of the gulf, and in the direct way back to Surunga, which may possibly be the _Oringgaw_ of the text.--E.]

[Footnote 23: The characters have by some been thought to be those of China, but I compared them with Chinese books, and they seemed to me quite different, yet not _letters_ to compound words by spelling, as ours, but _words_ expressed in their several characters, such as are used by the _Chinais_ and as the brevity manifesteth. I take them to be characters peculiar to j.a.pan.--_Purch._

In a marginal reference in the plate given by Purchas, the lines are said to read downwards, beginning at the right hand. It may possibly be so: But they appear _letters_, or literal characters, to _compound words by spelling_, and to be read like those used in Europe, from left to right horizontally. In a future portion of our work, the subject of the j.a.panese language and writing will be farther elucidated; when, we believe, it will appear that they have two modes of writing, one by _verbal_ or _ideal_ characters like the Chinese, and the other by _literal_ signs like all the rest of the world.--E.]

_Letter from the Emperor of j.a.pan to the King of Great Britain_.

Your majesty's kind letter, sent me by your servant Captain Saris, who is the first of your subjects that I have known to arrive in any part of my dominions, I heartily embrace, being not a little glad to understand of your great wisdom and power, as having three plentiful and mighty kingdoms under your powerful command. I acknowledge your majesty's great bounty, in sending me so undeserved a present of many rare things, such as my land affordeth not, neither have I ever before seen: Which I receive, not as from a stranger, but as from your majesty, whom I esteem as myself, desiring the continuance of friends.h.i.+p with your highness: And that it may consist with your good pleasure to send your subjects to any part or port of my dominions, where they shall be most heartily welcome, applauding much their worthiness in the admirable knowledge of navigation, as having with much facility discovered a country so remote, not being amazed by the distance of so mighty a gulf, nor the greatness of such infinite clouds and storms, from prosecuting the honourable enterprises of discovery and merchandising, in which they shall find me to encourage them as they desire. By your said subject, I return to your majesty a small token of my love, desiring you to accept the same as from one who much rejoices in your friends.h.i.+p. And, whereas your majesty's subjects have desired certain privileges for trade and the settlement of a factory in my dominions, I have not only granted what they desired, but have confirmed the same to them under my broad seal, for the better establishment thereof. Given from my castle of _Surunga_, this fourth day of the ninth month, in the eighteenth year of our reign, according to our computation; resting your majesty's friend, the highest commander in the kingdom of j.a.pan.

Subscribed

Minna Muttono_[24]. _Yei. Ye. Yeas_.

[Footnote 24: In the copy of the privileges, Purchas gives this name _Mottono_ while the editor of Astley's Collection has altered it to _Monttono_. In the privileges formerly inserted, the date is made in the _nineteenth_ month, perhaps an error of the press in the Pilgrims, which we have therefore corrected to _ninth_.--E.]

At my return to Surunga, I found a Spanish amba.s.sador from the Philippine islands, who had only been once introduced to the emperor, and delivered his presents, being certain Chinese damasks, and five jars of European sweet wine, and could not obtain any farther access to the emperor. The purpose of his emba.s.sy was, to require that such Portuguese and Spaniards as were then in j.a.pan, not authorised by the king of Spain, might be delivered up to him, that he might carry them to the Philippines. This the emperor refused, saying his country was free, and none should be forced out of it: But, if the amba.s.sador could persuade any to go with him, they should not be detained. The cause of the amba.s.sador making this request was on account of the great want of men to defend the Molucca islands against the Dutch, who were then making great preparations for the entire conquest of these islands. After the amba.s.sador had waited for an answer till the time limited by his commission was expired, and receiving none, he went away much dissatisfied: And when at the sea side, an answer was returned, as mentioned above, together with a slender present of five j.a.panese gowns, and two _cattans_ or swords.

About a month before I came to Surunga, being displeased with the Christians, the emperor issued a proclamation commanding that they should all remove immediately, and carry their churches to Nangasaki, a maritime town about eight leagues from Firando, and that no Christian church should be permitted, neither any ma.s.s be sung, within ten leagues of his court, on pain of death. Some time after, twenty-seven natives, men of good fas.h.i.+on, being a.s.sembled in an hospital or Christian Leper-house, where they had ma.s.s performed, and this coming to the knowledge of the emperor, they were all commanded to be shut up in a house for a night, and to be led to execution next day. That same evening, another man was committed to the same house for debt, who at his coming was a heathen and quite ignorant of Christ or his holy religion; but, next morning, when the officer called at the door for the Christians to come forth for execution, and those who renounced it to remain behind, this man had been so instructed during the night by the others, that he came resolutely forth along with the rest, and was crucified with them.

We departed from Surunga on the 9th of October, and during our journey towards _Miaco_ we had for the most part much rain, by which the rivers were greatly swelled, and we were forced to stop by the way, so that it was the 16th of October before we got there. _Miaco_ is the largest city in j.a.pan, depending mostly upon trade, and having the chief _Fotoqui_ or temple of the whole empire, which is all built of freestone, and is as long as the western end of St Paul's in London from the choir; being also as high, arched in the roof and borne upon pillars as that is. Many _bonzes_ are here in attendance for their maintenance, as priests are among the papists. They have here an altar, on which the votaries offer rice and small money, called _cundrijus_, twenty of which are equal to an English s.h.i.+lling, which offerings are applied to the use of the bonzes. Near this altar is an idol, called _Mannada_, much resembling that of _Dabis_ formerly mentioned, and like it made of copper, but much higher, as it reaches up to the arched roof. This _Fotoqui_ was begun to be built by _Taicosama_, and has since been finished by his son, having been ended only while we were there. According to report, there were buried within its enclosure the ears and noses of 3000 Coreans, who were ma.s.sacred at one time; and upon their grave a mount is raised, having a pyramid on its summit, the mount being grown over with gra.s.s, and very neatly kept. The horse that Taicosama last rode upon is kept near this _Fotoqui_, having never been ridden since, and his hoofs have grown extraordinarily long by age.

This _Fotoqui_ stands on the top of a high hill, and on either side, as you ascend the hill, there are fifty pillars of freestone, at ten paces each from the other, having a lantern on the top of each, which are all lighted up with oil every night. There are many other Fotoquis in this city. In Miaco the Portuguese jesuits have a very stately college, in which there are several native j.a.panese jesuits, who preach, and have the New Testament printed in the j.a.panese language. Many of the native children are bred up in this college, where they are instructed in the Christian religion, according to the doctrines of the Romish church; and there are not less than five or six thousand natives professing Christianity in this city. The tradesmen and artificers of all kinds in this city are all distributed by themselves, every trade and occupation having its own particular streets, and not mingled together as with us.

We remained some time in Miaco, waiting for the emperor's present, which was at length delivered, being ten _beobs_, or large pictures, for being hung up in a chamber.

The 20th of October we departed from Miaco, and came that night to _Fus.h.i.+mi_.[25] We arrived about noon of the next day at Osaka, where the common people behaved very rudely to us, some calling after us _Tosin!

Tosin!_ that is, Chinese, while others called us _Core! Core!_ or Coreans, and flung stones at us; even the greatest people of the city animating and setting on the rabble to abuse us. We here found the galley waiting for us which had brought us from Firando, having waited for us all the time of our absence at the expence of king _Foyne_. We embarked in this galley on the 24th of October, and arrived at Firando on the 6th November, where we were kindly welcomed by old _Foyne_.

During the time of my absence, our people had sold very little goods, as according to the customs of j.a.pan no stranger can offer goods for sale without the express permission of the emperor. Besides, as our chiefest commodity intended for this country was broad cloth, which had latterly been sold there at the rate of forty Spanish dollars the _matte_, which is two yards and a quarter as formerly mentioned, and as the natives saw that we were not much in the habit of wearing it ourselves, they were more backward in buying it than they used to be. They said to us, "You commend your cloth to us, while you yourselves wear little of it; your better sort of people wearing silken garments, while the meanest are clothed in fustians, &c." Wherefore, that good counsel, though late, may come to some good purpose, I wish that our nation would be more inclined to use this our native manufacture of our own country, by which we may better encourage and allure others to its use and expenditure.

[Footnote 25: Fusimo, a town about ten miles from Miaco, on a river that runs into the head of the bay of Osaka.--E.]

--8. _Occurrences at Firando, during the Absence of Captain Saris_.[26]

The 7th August, 1613, all things being in readiness, our general Captain Saris departed from Firando in company with Mr Adams, for the court of the emperor of j.a.pan, taking along with him Mr Tempest Peac.o.c.k, Mr Richard Wickham, Edward Saris, Walter Carwarden, Diego Fernandos, John Williams a tailor, John Head a cook, Edward Bartan the surgeon's mate, John j.a.pan _Jureba.s.so_,[27] Richard Dale c.o.xswain, and Anthony Ferry a sailor; having a cavalier or gentleman belonging to king Foyne as their protector, with two of his servants, and two native servants belonging to Mr Adams. They embarked in a barge or galley belonging to the king, which rowed twenty oars of a side, and we fired thirteen pieces of ordnance at their departure. The old king sent 100 _tayes_ of j.a.panese money to our general before his departure, for his expenditure on the way, which I placed to account, by our general's order, as money lent.

[Footnote 26: This subdivision is taken from observations written by Richard c.o.c.kes, Cape merchant, or chief factor at Firando. These observations are a separate article in the Pilgrims of Purchas, vol.

I. pp. 395--405, and in Astley's Collection, vol. I. pp. 509--517; but are inserted in this place as calculated to render this first account of the English trade in j.a.pan a complete and unbroken narrative.--E.]

[Footnote 27: John j.a.pan seems a fabricated name; perhaps a j.a.panese Christian named John, and the addition of _Jureba.s.so_ may signify that he acted as interpreter.--E.]

Next day, I went to wait upon the two kings, as from our general, to thank them for having so well provided for his journey, which they took in good part. I suspect the old king had notice that some of our men had behaved ill last night; as he desired me to remind the master to look well to the people on board, and that I should look carefully to the behaviour of those on sh.o.r.e, that all things might go on as well in the absence of the general as when he was present, otherwise the shame would be ours, but the dishonour his. On the 9th, a j.a.panese boy named Juan, who spoke good Spanish, came and offered to serve me for nine or ten years, and even to go with me to England if I pleased, asking no wages but what I was pleased to give. I took him into my service, and that the rather, because I found Miguel, the _jureba.s.so_ left with me by Mr Adams, was somewhat stubborn, and loved to run about at his pleasure, leaving me often without any person who could speak a word of the j.a.panese language. This Juan is a Christian, most of his kindred dwelling at Nangasaki, only one living here at Firando, who came along with him and pa.s.sed his word for his honesty and fidelity. Juan had served a Spaniard at Manilla for three years, where he had acquired the Spanish language. I engaged him, and bought for him two j.a.panese garments, which cost me fourteen _mas_.

The 13th I shewed our commodities to some merchants of _Maioco_, [Miaco]

but they bought nothing, and seemed chiefly to desire to have gunpowder.

This day _Semidono_ went to visit our s.h.i.+p, accompanied by several stranger gentlemen, and came afterwards to see our English house, where I gave them the best entertainment in my power. The 19th at night began the great feast of the pagans, when they banquet and make merry all night by candle-light at the graves of their deceased kindred, whom they invite to partake.[28] It lasts three nights and the intermediate days; when, by command of the king, every house must new gravel the street before its door, and hang out candles all night. I was not slack in obeying this order, and I was informed that a poor man was put to death and his house shut up, for neglecting to comply with the order. On this occasion, the China captain furnished me with two very decent paper lanthorns. Being informed that the kings intended to ride about the streets, and to make me a visit, I provided a banquet for them, and waited till after midnight, but they came not. The 20th, 21st, and 22d, I sent presents to both the kings, being informed that such was the custom of the country, sending them wine and confections; as likewise to _n.o.besane_ the young king's brother; to _Semidono_, the old king's governor, and to _Unagense_, which were all very thankfully accepted.

Some _cavalliers_, or j.a.panese gentlemen, came to visit me during the festival, to whom I gave the best entertainment I could procure.

[Footnote 28: This pagan feast is a kind of Candlemas or Allsouls.--_Purchas_.]

The 23d we made an end of landing our gunpowder, being in all ninety-nine barrels, of which I advised our general by letter, requesting him to reserve a sufficiency for the s.h.i.+p, in case he sold it to the emperor. We landed several other things, which the master thought had best be sent ash.o.r.e, as our men began to filch and steal, that they might go to taverns and brothels. This day Mr Melsham the purser and I dined with Semidono, who used us kindly. The master and Mr Eaton were likewise invited, but did not go. The great festival ended this day, when three troops of dancers went about the town, with flags or banners, their music being drums and _pans_,[29] to the sound of which they danced at the doors of all the great men, as also at their paG.o.das and at the sepulchres.

[Footnote 29: Probably _gongs_, which very much resemble a bra.s.s frying-pan.--E.]

The 24th at night, all the streets were hung with candles, as the young king and his brother, with _Semidono, Nabesone_, and many others, went in masquerade to dance at the house of the old king. The young king and his brother were on horseback, having canopies carried over them, all the rest being a-foot, and they were accompanied by drums and _kettles_, as the before-mentioned dancers, _Nabesone_ playing on a fife. I was informed they meant to visit our house on their return, wherefore I provided a banquet and sat up for them till after midnight; but they returned in disorder, I think owing to some discontent, and none of them entered our house. Captain _Brower_ likewise pa.s.sed our door, but would not look at us, and we made as little account of him. The 27th we landed three pieces of ordnance, having three landed formerly, all whole _culverins_ of iron. The old king came down to the sh.o.r.e while our men were about this job, and seeing only twenty men, offered seventy or a 100 j.a.panese to help them; but our people landed them all very quickly in his sight, at which he expressed much astonishment, saying that an hundred of his men could not have done it so soon. He was so much pleased with the activity of our men on this occasion, that he sent for a barrel of wine and some fish, which he gave among them as a reward for their labouring so l.u.s.tily.

The 28th, I received two letters from our general, dated the 19th and 20th of the month, as also two others from Mr Peac.o.c.k and Mr Wickham, which were brought me by the governor of _s.h.i.+monoseke_.[30] This governor did not land at Firando, but delivered these letters on board our s.h.i.+p to the master, proceeding directly for Nangasaki, and promising to return hither shortly. I also carried a letter for the old king _Foyne_, which was brought by the same governor, being accompanied on the occasion by Mr Melsham and _Hernando_. Foyne at this visit made a present of a _cattan_ or j.a.panese sword to Mr Melsham, and another with a Spanish dagger to Hernando, giving likewise both to them and me several bunches of garlic. He also gave us leave to dry our gunpowder on the top of the fortress, offering some of his own people to help ours, if we had need of them. This day I brought on sh.o.r.e to our house twenty-two bars of lead, together with 125 culverin shot, round and langridge. When we were about to sit down to supper, the old king came to visit us, and being very merry he sat down to supper with us, and took such fare as we had in good part.

[Footnote 30: Simonosequi is a town on the north side of the straits between the island of Kiusiua and the north-western end of Niphon.--E.]

The 1st September, the old king and all his n.o.bles made a masquerade, and went next night to visit the young king his grandson, accompanied by music, as formerly mentioned, all the streets being hung with lanterns.

As I was told he meant to visit our house on his return, I made ready for him and waited till after midnight; but he pa.s.sed by with all his company without coming in. I reckoned he had more than 3000 persons in his train, for which, as I think, he pa.s.sed by, not wis.h.i.+ng to trouble us with so great a mult.i.tude. On the 2d _Semidono_ and others who were appointed by the king, measured all the houses in the street, ours among the rest; which I understood was for the purpose of a general taxation, to be levied by appointment of the emperor, for the construction of fortresses. I entertained them to their satisfaction. The 4th we had news that the queen of Spain was dead, and that the king was a suitor for the princess Elizabeth of England. The 6th, a n.o.bleman came to visit our English house, and brought me a present of two great bottles of wine and a basket of pears. I entertained him as well as I could, and he went away contented.

We had much rain in the morning of the 7th September, accompanied by wind, which increased in force all day, varying between the east and south. In the night between the 7th and 8th, the wind rose to a _tuffoon_ or storm of such extreme violence as I had never witnessed, neither had the like been experienced in this country during the memory of man. It overturned above an hundred houses in Firando, and unroofed many others, among which was the house of old king Foyne. An extensive wall surrounding the house of the young king was blown down, and the boughs and branches of trees were broken off and tossed about with wonderful violence. The sea raged with such fury, that it undermined a great wharf or quay at the Dutch factory, broke down the stone wall, carried away the landing stairs, sunk and broke to pieces two barks belonging to the Dutch, and forty or fifty other barks, then in the roads, were broken and sunk. At our house, the newly built wall of our kitchen was broken down by the sea, which likewise flowed into and threw down our oven. The tiles likewise were blown off from the roofs of our house and kitchen, both of which were partly unroofed. Our house rocked as if shaken by an earthquake, and we spent the night in extreme fear, either of being buried under the ruins of our factory, or of peris.h.i.+ng along with it by fire; for all night long, the barbarous unruly common people ran up and down the streets with lighted firebrands, while the wind carried large pieces of burning wood quite over the tops of the houses, as it whirled up the burning timbers of the several houses previously thrown down, hurling fire through the air in great flakes, very fearful to behold, and threatening an entire conflagration of the town; and I verily believe, if it had not been for the extreme quant.i.ty of rain, contrary to the usual nature of tuffoons, that the whole town had been consumed. This terrible wind and prodigious rain were accompanied the whole night by incessant flashes of lightning and tremendous peals of thunder. Our s.h.i.+p rode out the gale in the roads, having out five cables and anchors, of which one old cable gave way, but, thanks be to G.o.d, no other injury was sustained, except that our long boat and skiff both broke adrift, but were both afterwards recovered. We afterwards learnt that this tuffoon did more damage at Nangasaki than here at Firando; for it destroyed above twenty Chinese junks, together with the Spanish s.h.i.+p which brought the amba.s.sador from Manilla.

On the 12th, two merchants from Miaco came to our English house, to whom I shewed all our commodities. They laid aside two pieces of broad cloth, one black and the other _stammel_, the best they could find, for which they offered seven _tayes_ the yard. They also offered for out _Priaman_ gold eleven tayes of silver for one of gold. But they went away without concluding any bargain. This day, one of our men named Francis Williams, being drunk ash.o.r.e, struck one of the servants of king Foyne with a cudgel, although the man had given him no offence, and had not even spoken to him. The j.a.panese came to our house making great complaints, and was very angry, not without cause, and told me he would complain to his king of the bad usage he had received. He had three or four others along with him, who had seen him abused, and who said the aggressor was just gone off to the s.h.i.+p. I gave them fair words, desiring them to go on board and find out the man who had committed the offence, and they should be sure of having him punished, and for that purpose I sent Miguel, our _jureba.s.so_, on board along with them. He did so, and pointed out Williams as the culprit, who stoutly denied the accusation with many oaths, but the affair was too notorious, and the master ordered him to be seized to the capstan in presence of the complainants, upon which even they entreated for his pardon, knowing that he was drunk. But the fellow was so unruly, that he took up an iron crow to strike the j.a.panese in the master's presence, and even abused the master in the grossest terms.[31]

[Footnote 31: Of many misdemeanours, I permit some to pa.s.s the press, that the cause of so many deaths in the Indies might be seen, rather to be imputed to their own misconduct, than the intemperature of the climate, and for a caveat to others, who may send or be sent into _ethnicke_ regions: Yet do I conceal the most and worst.--_Purch._]

Learning, on the 13th, that old king Foyne was sick, I sent our jureba.s.so Miguel to visit him, carrying as a present a great bottle of our general's sweet wine, and two boxes of conserves, comfits, and sugar-bread. Miguel was likewise directed to offer my best service, and to say that I was sorry for his sickness, and would have waited on him myself, but that I supposed company was not agreeable to a sick man.

Foyne accepted my present in very good part, returning many thanks, and desiring me to ask for any thing we were in need of, either for the use of the s.h.i.+p or our factory, which he would take care we should be provided with.

The master came to the factory on the 14th early in the morning, telling me that most of the s.h.i.+p's company had lain ash.o.r.e all night without leave, although the s.h.i.+p was aground, and there had been a heavy wind all night. He wished therefore, that I would allow our jureba.s.so, Miguel, to accompany him in seeking them out. He went accordingly accompanied by Miguel and Mr Melsham our purser, and found several of the men drinking and domineering, among whom he bestowed a few blows, ordering them aboard. Two of the men, named Lambert and Colphax, though ordered aboard, remained ash.o.r.e all day, notwithstanding the great need of hands in the s.h.i.+p, where it had been necessary to hire several j.a.panese to a.s.sist. Lambert and Colphax being drunk, went out into the fields and fought, on which occasion Lambert was hurt in the arm, and remained drunk ash.o.r.e all night; as did Boles and Christopher Evans, who had done so for two or three nights before, and had a violent quarrel about a girl.

On the 17th, being informed that _Bastian_, the keeper of the brothel frequented by our men, had threatened to kill me and such as came along with me, if I came any more to his house to seek for our men, I went and complained to the young king, the old one being sick. At my request, he issued a proclamation, that no j.a.panese should admit our people into their houses after day-light, under severe penalties; and that it should be lawful for me, or any other in my company, to enter any of the native houses in search of our men, not only without molestation or hinderance, but that the native inhabitants should aid and a.s.sist me; and if the doors were not opened at my desire, I was authorised to break them open.

A soldier was sent to inform _Bastian_ to be careful not to molest or disturb me, as he might expect to be the first that should pay for it.