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THE
MODERN PART
OF AN
Univerfal Hiftory^
FROM THE
Earlieft Accomits to the Prefent Time.
Compiled from
ORIGINAL AUTHORS.
By the AUTHORS of the ANCIENT PART.
VOL. IX,
LONDON,
Printed for C. Bathurst, J. F. and C. Rivington, A. Hamil-
ton, T. PaIyne, T. Longman, S. Crowder, B. Law, J.
RoBSON, F. Newbery, G. Robinson, T. Cadell, J. and T.
Bowles, S. Bladon, J. Murray, J.Nichols, J. Bow£n,
t \Xr Vnv
and W. Fox.
MDCCLXXXI.
CO NT E NT S
OF THE
NINTH VOLUME.
CHAP. XXXIIL
The Conquefts, Settlements, and Difcovenes of the
Dutch in the Eaft Indies, comprehending the Hif*
tory of the Rife, Progrefs, and fuccefsful Efta-
bU(hent of their Eaft India Company, the Nature
of their Conftitution, the Extent of their Domi-
nions, the Im^rtance of th^ir Commerce, the
Form of Rule eftablifhed in their Colonies, as alfo
the Domeftic Oeconomy of the Company, and
how they are fubjedt to the States of the United
Provinces.
•Sect. IX. Their Conduct in Refpe£t to the Chinefe,
and other Eaftern nations. The War
of Formofa ; and the Caufes of the Lofs
of that fruitful Ifland, and important .
Colony, p. t
X. The Nature of that Policy, by whicji
they totally ruined the Pov/er of the
Portuguefe. The Caufes and Nature
of their Connedlions with the Tartars
in China. The War of Macaffar, which
ends in the total Redu£lion of that po-
tent Monarch, and his Subjects ; who
endeavour to (hake oiFthe Dutch Yoke,
but without Effcdt, though the braveft
and heft difciplined People in the In-
dies, igl
XI. The Eaft India Company's Fourth Char-
ter. Manage their Affairs with equal
A 3 Difcre^
CONTENTS.
Difcretion and Succefs. Difappoint the
French in their Attempts to fix them-
felves in the Ifland of Ceylon, and pro-
fecute their Oppofition to that Nation
with fignal advantage, 19
Sect. XII. The Conduct of the Company entitles
them to great Favour at Home : the Na-
ture and Succefs of their Policy in the
Ille of Java : refolv€ to drive the French
out of the Indies : in Confequence of
which they attack, and render them-
felves Mailers of Pondicherry, 27
XIII. The Caufes and Confequences of the
Company's long War in Java. The
grand Confpifacy of the Natives, for
the Extirpation of the Dutch. The
Manner in which it was difcovered, pre-
vented, and punifhec], 39
XIV. The Infurreaion, or Maflacre of the Chi-
nefe, 4^
XV. Deficription of the great Government of
Batavia, the City of which is the Capi-
tal of the Dutch Indies. The Coun-
tries adjacent, together with their Pro-
duce. An Account of the Natives that
are Subjefe to; the Company, ^2
XVI. A View of the great Government of Cey-
lon. Some Attempts of the Dutch Go-
vernors, to render themfelves indepen-
dent. The Profits accruing to the Com-
pany from their PofiefTion of the Coafts
of this valuable Country; and their fin-
gular Precaution in excluding all other
Nations, 62
XVII. Nature and Confequences of the Clove
Trade, and the Manner in which it has
been tranflated to Amboyna, from the
Proper
CONTENTS.
Proper Moluccas, and the Motives
which induced the Company to take this
Method as the moft efFe(3:ual for pre-
ferving this valuable Branch of Trade, 7a
Sect. XVIII. The Governments of the Iflands of Ban-
da, State of the Nutmeg Trade, Precau-
tions taken to fecure the Monopoly of
Spices in the Indies, as well as in Eu-
rope; how far this has hitherto fuc-
ceeded, 73
XIX. Account of the two great Governments ;
of Macaflar in the Ifland of Celebes,
and of the Molucca Iflands, out of
which the Cloves are extirpated, though
in moft geographical Defcriptions thefe
are ftill called the Spice Iflands, 7^
XX. The Government of the Cape of Good Hope.
Detail of the vaft Improvements made
there ; and a brief View of the prefent
Condition of the Hottentots, their Sub-
jefts. Method of the Company's Fleet
touching here, and other curious Parti-
culars, S^
XXI. The Government of the Fortrefs and
Territory of Malacca, the laft, but not
the lead confiderable, of the Company's
firft-rate Governments. The Difficul-
ties of reducing it, which fixed them
in tbe Indies ; and the great Import-
ance of this Settlement, from its ad-
mirable Situation, 88
XXII. An Account of the fecondary Govern-
ments, or as the Dutch ftyle them, Di-
re£lions, on the Coafl of Coromandel,
in Bengal, at Surat, and at Gombroon ;
as alfo of the Commandants on th^
Cgafl: of Malabar, and elfewhere, 90
A 4 Sect.
C Cr NT T E N T S.
Sect. XXIII. The Third .Order of Governments un-
der thofe who arie ftyled only Chiefs, 98
XXIV. A complete Hiftory of the Commerce
and State of the Dutch Company at
Japan? iOS
X-XV. A fuccina: View of the Dutch Refident-
fhips throughout the Indies, at Cheri-
bon in the Ifle of Java, in the King-
dom of Siam, and at Mocha in Ara-
bia, 113
J XXVl. An ample Detail of the Government gra-
-' ' dually fettled by the Company in the
Indies, in refpe6l to their Civil, Mili-
tary, Commercial, and Ecclefiaftical Efta-
ments, ' I22
XXVII. The Domeftic Oeconomy of the Dutch
Eaft India Company. The immenfe
Profits that have refjilted to Holland
frona this ^950111} ere?. The J^ature of
Dividends and Transfers ; cgncludlng
with fome Ql)fervations and Remarks
^ Upp)i tjie foregoing Particulars, 1 33
CHAP. XXXIV.
The Commerce, Colonies, and Compai>ie^, which
the Danes have heretofore maintained, or ftill fup-
port in'the Eaft Indies, 135
Sect. I. Charafter of the Danlfh Nation; their
ancient Turn to Navigation; and naval
Expeditions 5 th^ir Shg^r^ 4n the Holy
War ; the Time when an ardent Defire
of making Plfpoveries, . ^nd opening
newBr^nche^oT Trade, revived amongft
them. Account of the famous Empire
'' of Birnagar iq Indoftan, and the Cir-
cumftances
CONTENTS.
,qumftances which facilitated their fet-
tling at Tanjour, 139
Sect. II. A Negociationbetween the Monarch of Cey-
lon and the Court of Copenhagen •, the
Fortrefs of Tranquebar ereded, and the
favourable Afpe6t of Things in Regard
to the Affairs of the firft Danifli Com-
pany. Change of Circumftances in the
Indies, and unfavourable Events in Eu-
rope, exhauft the Funds, and wound
the Credit of the Company, abroad and
at home. 146
III. The different Shifts to which the Danlfli
Colony are forced to have recourfe, in
order to maintain themfelves in Poffef-
Con of their Fortrefs. Attacked by the
Naick of Tanjour with fuperior Forces.
Generoufly affifted by the Englifh, to
whofe gallant Behaviour they ftand in-
debted for the Prefervation of Tran-
quebar, and, of Confequence, their
Footing in the Indies, l^a
IV, Frederic IV. takes the Refolutipn of em-
employing Miffionaries to pfeach the
Chriftian Faith amongfl the Pagans.
The Steadinefs with which, in Spite of
all Difcouragements, this excellent De-
fign has been purfued. An accurate
Account of the Danifh Settlement, Fort-
trefs, Port, adjacent Country, Depen-
dencies, prefent Condition, and future
Prcfpedls from the Colony at Tranque-
bar, Some Conjedlures on this Sub-
s. .rf J j^^^ ^^^ ^^^ Arguments for and againfl
the Danifh Schemes truly and clearly
ftated, 1^7
Sect.
CONTENTS.
Sect. V. Propofition made to the late King of Den-
mark for erefting a new Company for
carrying on the Commerce of the Indies.
An Abftrad of his Majefty's Charter,
and an Account of the Progrefs of this
Undertaking. It gives Umbrage, from
the critical Conjundlure in which it was
fet on foot, to the Maritime Powers,
who vigoroufly oppofe it : appears to
be a confolidating Scheme, in which
the old Danifli Eaft India Company be-
ing comprehended, it {lands on a quite
different Bafis from that at Oftend. 167
C3 A P. XXXV.
The Hiflory of the'Frcfhch Commerce in the Indies, 174
Sect. I. Endeavours of the French Monarchs to
infpire their Subjects with a Paffion for
Navigation and Commerce. Henry IV".
ere£ls their firft: Eaft India Company,
which funk without ever attempting any
Thing; makes. way for another more
a6live, and for a little Time fuccefsful ;
but, in the Cl.ofe, after varying their
Stheme, fall into a declining State,
and are unable to fuftain themfelves in
that capacity, ibid.
II. Cardinal Richlieu turns his Thoughts up-
on this fubje£l ; refolves to fet up a new
Company, with more extenfive Powers,
better Eunds, and under his immediate
ProtecSlion ; . all which Advantages,
however, could not fecure it fuccefs. M.
Colbert enters into the like Scheme,
purfues it with equal Ability and Appli-
cation ; notwithftanding all which, the
Affairs
CONTENTS.
Affairs of theRoya! Eaft India Companf
gradually decline, 1 78
Sect. III. Various Efforts made to reflore their Cre-
dit, and to keep their Trade alive, ia
which they are fometimes affifted by,
and fometimes meet with Difcourage-
ments from the Miniftry, which at
length induces them to let out their
Privileges to private Perfons : the Con-
fcquences of thefe Licences, which,
amongft others, produce a China Com-
pany, and, upon the whole, turn to
very little Account, in whatever Light
they are conGdered, 191
IV. Hiftory of the Company's Concerns in
the Indies ; Manner in which they ac-
quired the Town and Fortrefs of Pon-
dicherry ; Defcription of that Place, and
every Thing belonging to it; Pains
taken to preferve and fortify it. Exc^U
lent Behaviour of thofe entrufled with
the Company's Affairs in the Eaft, by
whom all their Pcffeffions are maintain-
ed, and fome Degree of Credit kepC
up abroad, though wholly loft at home, 198
V. The State of the Company's domeftic Si-
tuation at the Demife of Lewis XIV.
On what Terms, and with what Views,
the Regent Duke of Orleans took up
the Concerns of this and other Compa-
nies ; and what were the real Ends pro-
pofed by that Confolidation to which
he gave the founding and fpecious Title
of the Union, that a Revival of Credit
might in fome Meafure refult from the
Name, 209
SircT.
e O ,N T E K T S/
Sect. VI. Upon the Incorporation of all the old
trading Societies, the Grants formerly-
made are confirmed, extended, and
made irrevocable, in the new one, which
is therefore flyled the Perpetual Com-
pany of the Indies, 215
VII. The great Efforts produced by thefe wife
Regulajtions, which by Degrees brought
about it WD Eftablilhments, which hither-
to ln<X been judged impradicable in
France, an effectual Commerce with
the Indies, and public Credit, 220
VIII. The Hiftory of the Company^ Proceed-
ings in the Indies, and an accurate Ac-
count of their Settiements, and parti-
cularly of thofe two important Illands
of France, while in the Hands of the
Dutch, ftyled Mauritius, and of Bour-
bon, *228
IX. An Hiftorical Account of the French
Commerce at Mocha, Baflbra, Surat, on
the Coaft of Malabar and Coromandel ;
their Acquifitions in Point of Territory,
through the Arts and Addrefs of their
- '• Governors; the State of Pondicherry
refumed, 243
X. The Hiilory of the Rife of the Indian
"War ; the Condu<Sl of Mr. Dupleix in
that Refpe£l:, 251
XI. Account of the remaining Part of the
French Commerce in the Eaft Indies ;
their Intercourfe with China 5 the Plan
of their domeftic Management j a View
of the grand EftabliflitDent at Port
L'Orient, 254
CHAP.
C O N T E N T Ss
CHAP, xxxvr.
The Hiftory of the Eftablilhrnent ©f a Company trad-
ing to the Eafl Indies, under the Charter of his
Imperial Majefty from Oftend, 259
Sect. L The pretended, as well as the real Mo-
tives, to the propoGnga Commerce be-
tween the Auftrian Netherlands and the
Eafl Indies, ibid.
IL The political Condud of the States Ge-
neral, the Court of Great Britain, and
the Crowns of France and Spain, in
Order to procure Satisfacllon upon this
Head, and to prevent the Commerce
of their Subje6h fuiFering, from the
Schemes of the new-ereded Company, 265
IIR The Progrefs of this Oppofition, 271
IV. His Catholic Majefty makes a (hort Turn,
and, though his Right of Oppofition
was the ftrongeft of any, enters into s
Treaty with the Emperor ; and in Con-
lequence of that Meafure, undertakes
the Protedion and Support of the New
Company, which alarms all the other
Powers, and produces the Treaty of Ha-
nover, 274
V. After a long Train of Operations and Ne-
gociations, the Court of Vienna, find-
ing it abfolutely necefTary to tefnporize,
confent to a Sufpenfion of the Company's
Charter, in Hopes of gaining Time,
and availing tbemfelves of fome more
favourable Conjun£lure for reviving and
carrying their Scheme into Execution, 281
Sect.
CONTENTS,
Sect. VI. The Methods taken to fupport the Com-
pany, and elude all Stipulations for
fupprefTing their Commerce with the In-
dies, by obtaining Paflports from neu-
tral Powers, and bringing their Cargoes
jnto different Ports, which protra£!ed
Things for fome Time, but in the End
proved ineffectual,. 2Z4.
VIL The Conclufion of this Affair, and the
total Extindion of the Oftend Company, 293
CHAP. XXXVIL
Hiftory of the Company e(labli(hed for carrying on a
Commerce to the Eaft Indies from Sweden, 296
Sect. I. The Swedes, for many Ages, inattentive
to Commerce, and to the Arts of Peace ;
but at length come to form a right No-
tion of their Importance; and, upon
an Application and due Information as
to the Benefit of the Eaft India Com-
merce, a Charter is granted, in the
ampleft Form, for the Advantage and
Encouragement of the Proprietors, ibid.
n. Condu£t of the Swedifh Monarch, and of
the Nation^ in fupporting this Eftablilh-
ment, 304
CHAP, xxxvm.
Hiftory of the Othman Empire, 3 1 1
Sect. I. Origin of the Othman Turks, and Hif-
tory, till their fettling in Afia Minor,
under the Seljuk Soltans. Remarks on
their Hiftorians; with the Reigns of So-
lyman Shah and Ertogrul, ibid.
Sect.
CONTENTS.
Sect. II. The Reign of Othman, or Ozman, firft
Khan, or Soltan, 324
III. Reign of Or Khan, ^^9
IV. The Reign of Morad Khan I. 355
V. The Reign of Ilderim Ba-yezid, 361
Interregnum under Solyman Chelebi, 375
Interregnum under Mufa Chelebi, 380
VI. The Reign of Mohammed I. 384
VII. The Reign of Morad II. 391
VIII. The Reign of Mohammed II. furnamed
Fatih, to the taking of ConftaBtinople, 414
To the Conqueft of the Morea, 433
To the Conqueft of Bofnia, 444
Wars with Skander Beg and the Vene-
tians, 454
T H E
MODE R N PART
O F
Univerfal Hiftory,
CHAP. XXXIII.
The Conquejls^ Settlements^ and Difcoveries of
the Dutch in the Eaji Indies^ comprehending
the Hijiory of the Rife 9 Progrefs^ and fuc*
cefsfui Eftahlijhment of their EaJi India Com"
pany^ the Nature of their Conftitution, the
Extent of their Dominions^ the Importance
of their Commerce^ the Form of Rule ejia-
blijhed in their Colonies^ as alfo the domeftic
Oeconomy of the Company ^ and how they are
fubjedl to the States of the United Provinces.
SECT. IX.
Their ConduB in refpe£t of the Chinefe, and other
Eajlern Nations, The War of Formofa\ and the
Caufes of the Lofs of that fruitful Iflandy and im-
portant Colony,
ALL the fuccefles which the company had met with Thicom*
could not make them forget their feveral difap- pany re-
pointments in their attempts to fettle, or force a f^^^ ^^^^^
trade to China : they could not bear with patience, that ^'^■^^* 'f
while they were efteemed and courted by all the other na- anTnu^
tions in the Eaft, they fhould be negle£led by the govern- courfe
ment of China, and even treated with apparent averfion ; w/VA
they could not fee without concern the Portuguefe in pof- ^^'^**
Mod. Vol. IX. B feflion
2 Con^iieftSy Settlements^ and Dlfcoverles of
feflion of Macao, or digeft the affront they had received
when they attacked that place ; and therefore, to over-
come all thefe obftacles, the governor-general and coun-
cil at Batavia refolved to fend an embafly to the Chinefe
monarch, with magnificent prefents, and with fuch plau-
fible propofitionsy as they thought it impoflible he fhould
rejedl. At the head of this embafly were Peter Boyer and
James Keyfel, men of great parts, and long verfed in bu-
finefs, who fet out from Batavia in the month of June,
1655, and arriving fafely at Canton, communicated to the
viceroy the fubjed of their commiflfion, and defired they
might be fent to the imperial refidence* The emperor of
China was then in the city of Pe-kin, to whofe prefence,
after a flay of eight or nine months, they were admitted j
and from the civility fhewn at their firfl audience, had great
hopes of fuccefs ; but they foon difcovered that there were
perfons who traverfed all their defigns, and found means
to mifreprefent all the propofitions they made *.
fjtttare de- _The chief of their enemies was father Adam Schaal, a
featedin Jefuif, and a native of Cologne in Germany : he had re-
^'^at^'h ^" China upwards of Sve-and-thirty years, and had
ject/tL^ wrought himfelf fo far into the emperor's favour, that he
tri^ues of raifed him to a mandarin of the firfl rank, and placed him
the Jefu'tts at the head of all the philofophers and mathematicians in
^ip^i^^'^' the empire. This man, by his great interefl and knowlege,
e/ Pe-kin. ij^^g^ j.}^e defigns of the Dutch j for he reprefented them
as a people without any lands or fettlenients in Europe,
who lived merely by peddling and piracy, and had, by
treachery and cruelty, raifed themfelves a large empire in
the Indies, at the expehce of the natives, and more efpe-
cialiy of fuch princes ais, fuffering themfelves to be deceiv-
ed by fair pretences, had admitted them into their domi-
nions, and thereby afl^brded them an opportunity of dif-
treillng them and their ^fiibjecls^ The Chinefe, naturally
fufpiciousjliaving once thefe notions in their heads, began
to put fuch quellions to the Dutch ambafTadors as might
bell enable them to judge of the truth of what they had
been told. Upon their alking at how great a diflance the
feat of their government lay from China, they anfwered,
about five thoufand leagues; Being interrogated as to the
power and ilrength of the colony at Batavia, they gave
fuch anfwers as were true in themfelves, and likely i.o
create refpe£l ; but thefe were prccifely things that turned
mofl to their difadvantage, becaufe they feemed exa£lly to
agree with what father Schaal had laid down , fo that to-
wards the latter end of the year 1657, the ambaiTadorsi
a NeuvilU Hift. van Holland, 11 deel, lib, xi. cap. 7.
quitted
the Dutch in the Edii Indies, Jf
IJuitted China, without being able to make any progrefs in
the execution of their commifTion, fo ftrong were the ap-
prehenfions the Chinefe had of their danger, in cafe thefe
ftrangers were admitted to trade in the ports of their em-
pire ''.
But if difappointed in their hopes from a negociation in tachary
China, they had better fuccefs in Japan, to which country Wa^henaer
they fent Zachary Waghenaer, with the title of ambafla- '^'pj'^^r
dor to the emperor, with orders to ufe his utmoil endea- ^^{/f^^^
vours to gain a perfe£i: knowlege of the policy of that embajjies to
empire, and to make himfelf likewife as agreeable as pof- the court of
fible to the emperor and his minifters ; which commiflion J^P'***-
he was very capable of performing, being a man of deep
reach, great experience, and extremely atfable in his de-
portment. He had not been long, however, at Jeddo be-
fore a fudden fire reduced that city to afhes, an accident
which occafioned fuch confufion at the court of Japan, as
induced the Dutch ambaflador to return home =* He was
fcarce arrived at Batavia before news came that great dif-
putes had arifen between the Japanefe at Nangafaqui and
the Dutch fettled in their factory there, a circumftance
which alarmed the general and council fo much, that they
obliged Mr. Waghenaer, much againll his will, to make a ^
fecond voyage to Japan, where he did not arrive till the
beginning of the month of March, 1 659. He found means
to ingratiate himfelf with the emperor and his chief mi-
nifter; and by promifi ng two things on the part of the
Dutch, obtained all that he could reafonably afk in their
favour. The firfl was, that they fhould give early intelli-
gence of any defigns that might be formed in the Philip-
pines to the prejudice of the empire; the fecond, that
they fhould forbear taking Chinefe fliips upon the coafl of '
Japan, becaufe the emperor allowing the Chinefe to trade
in his dominions, it was but reafonable he fliould protect
them ^,
While thefe negociations were carrying on in the mofl Afrejb
diflant parts of the Eaft, there arofe a new war in Java, ivar
whith threatened ruin to the butch affairs. We {hall give '?"'?^-f out
a concife view of the whole matter from the Dutch hif- ^" •^'?"^*
tories. The ifland of Java had been anciently under the j^a'a'vm is
power of afingle monarch, fometimes ftyled by t\\QY)\i\.ch.' befieopd by
fimply the emperor, and at others king of Japara, from thekifgof
whom the governor of Bantam revolted, afTumed the title ^^'^^^^^
of king, and was fupported in this quality of an indepen-
b Bafnage Annales (les Provinces-unies, vol i. p. 450, 4^1.
c P. Charlevoix Hiftoire du Japon, torn. ii. p. 449, d Neuvillc
Hift. van Holland, 1 1 dee), lib. xi. cap, 7.
B 2 dent
4 Conquejis, Settlements^ and Dlfccveries of
dciit prince by the Dutch. It was by a dextrous manage-
ment of thefe divifions that they maintained their own
power ; for, whenever the emperor of Java attempted any
thing to the prejudice of Batavia, the king of Bantam was
fure to take arms ; as, on the other hand, whenever the
king of Bantam took the field againft them, they never
failed to have recourfe to the emperor of Java ^. But, in
the year 1659, the emperor being much embarrafled at
home, the king of Bantam laid hold of this favourable op-
portunity to raife a great army, and to attack the Dutch ;
fuppofmg, that as they were now deprived of the empe-
ror's afliftance, he fhould foon be able to make himfelf
mafter of Batavia, to which he laid fiege. He found him-
felf, however, millaken ; for the company was become fo
potent, that they were able to defend themfelves by their
own ftrength ; which they did fo effe61:ually, that, after
the lofs of a great part of his forces, the king of Bantam
was obliged to raife the fiege, and even to retire precipi-
tately into his own dominions ^ The emperor of Java,
or king of Japara, had flilllefs fuccefs ; for though he in-
herited, from his father, an invincible hatred to the com-
pany, yet they made him feel the effeds of their power,
and fuffer feverely for his" obftinacy, though they never
were able to conquer it, or to prevail upon him, either by
fair or foul means, to have any correfpondence with them.
T/ie com- Thefe diflurbances did not hinder the governor and
fanyrejiore council from engaging in a foreign war, for the fupport of
the king of ^^^^ p£ t-j^^^jj. allies, the king of Bengal, who was in great
anatnd ^^^^g^^^ of being dethroned by his brother. At firft, the
their ac- Dutch only furniflied him with provifions and artillery,
count in it and offered him, in cafe he was expelled, a fan61:uary at
Jvfficittttly. Batavia ; but afterwards finding that a confiderable part of
his fubjefts adhered to him firmly, they fent over troops
to his afliftance, and not only delivered him from the im-
mediate danger he was in, but reflored him to his former
dignity. In gratitude for this feafonable afljftance, he gave
them leave not only to erect a fa6lory, but a fort, at
Hughley. It was by thefe means that they ruined the
Engliih trade there, and fecured all the commerce of thofe
parts to themfelves, at leaft for fome time.
Unhe war Yet thefe remarkable inftances of good fortune could
on the king not efface the remembrance of their mifcarriage in China,
0/ Macaf- nnuch lefs incline them to forgive the Jefuits, to whom
/orf^^L/a ^^^^y attributed the defeat of that embafly. To be revenged
an igMomi- / .... • -a
niouspeace. ^ Tavernier Voyages des Tndes, p. ii.liv. ill. *^Neuville Hilt,
van Holland, 11 deel. xi. lib. xi. cap. 8.
on
I
the Butch in the Eajl Jml'ies. ^rC
cm the authors of this difgracc, they equipped a fleet of
thirty fail, with orders to fail to the illand of Macafiar,
and to attack the city of the lame name, in the port of
which they knew there was a Portuguefe fleet, richly
laden, wherein the Jefuits were deeply concerned s. Qn
the 7th of June, 1660, the Dutch attacked Macaflar by
land and lea ; and though the Indian monarch defended
his allies with his whole force, yet the Dutch obtained a
complete victory, burnt three Portuguefe fliips, funk two,
and took one, fo richly laden, that it fufficiently reimbuf-
ed the expence of the Chinefe embafTy, as well as of this
^expedition. What was flill more honourable for the
Dutch, the unfortunate king of Macaflar was obliged to
fend a folemn embafly, at the head of which was the king
of Pope, to Batavia, and to fubmit to fuch terms as the
governor-general thought lit to prefcribe ; which were
hard enough, fince he was obliged not only to expel all
the Portuguefe fettled in his dominions, but alfo to pro-
mife that he would never admit them, or any Europeans,
to refide in his territories, with the liberty of trading
The fortrefs and port of Jompandam, with the diftri6t,
of between thr^e and four leagues round about it, were to
remain in property to the Dutch Eaft India company ; the
Jefuits were to be expelled, their colleges razed, their
churches beaten down, and their efFe£ls confifcated to the ^
life of the company : and the king was to fend an embaf-
fador, with fuitablc prefents, to the governor-general, to
obtain the ratification of the treaty, ev^n upon thefe dif-
graceful terms *.
But immediately after all this mighty fuccefs, the 4n mcoufit
Dutch company received the fevereft check they had ever ^^ '^'! ''*^^'
met with fmce their eftablifliment in the Indies. They r^k^^J^fg.
had at this time a very fine fettlement on the ifland of Uny of ihe
Formofa, one of the faireft and mofl fruitful countries in Dutch in
the Eaft, abounding with all the neceflaries of life, pro- I^^rfnoja,
ducing various rich commodities, and affording an oppor-
tunity thereby of carrying on a vaft commerce. They
had built, for the prote£tion of their colony, a fquare '
fort, with large ballions, and below thefe, towards the ,
fea, they had another fortification, which covered the pa-
lace of their governor, confiitii^g of two regular baftions,
an excelleat covered-way, and four halfmoon^, the whole
s BaCnag« Annales desProvinces-unies, torn. i. p, 6*4. >> Ta^
vernier Voyages des Indes, p. ii. liv. iii. chap. 19. Gervaife D«r-
cr^tion Hiftoriquedu Koyaume de Maca^ar, p. 57.
B -K united
\~ Conquejlsy Settlements^ and Difcoveries of
united to the fort by very flrong walls, defended by a
great number of cannon, and conftantly fupplied with a
numerous garrifon. The town was long and large, ex-
tremely well peopled, and the inhabitants, from feven
years old and upwards, being charged with a poll-tax, at
the rate of half a guilder a head, produced a revenue
more than fufficient to defray the expences necefiary for
the maintenance of this important colony. Such, indeed,
it might be well ftyled, llnce, by its fituation, at- the di-
ftance only of twenty-four leagues from the coaft of
China, and one hundred and fifty from Japan, it afforded
the means of carrying on, with the greateft eafe, a trade
to both, that was inexpreJihly beneficial \ The Chinefe,
jn the year ib^^t ^^^ ^^^^ '^ very deep defi^n for the
deftruftion of the Dutch in this ifland, by an univerfal
confpiracy amongft the natives ; which, ho vever, had not
the defired effec^l: ; for, being difcovered in time, it was
■^bfolutely defeated. This piece of good fortune made
thofe who were entrufted with the care of the company's
affciirs at Bat ivia, in regard to this fetrlemeiit, much more
remifs than is ufual with this nation ; infomuch, that they
negledled the fortifications, and fuffered their magazines
to be exhaufted, while, by a fteady and undiverted ap^
plication to trade, they were labouring to advance their
private fortunes ^,
A taylor of At the time the Tartars made their laft conqueft of
tormofut China, there dwelt in the Dutch town upon this ifland a
nvhofe^ taylor, whofe name in their language was Chinchilung,
Iqu-n re- ^^^ ^Y ^^ Dutch and other Europeans he was called
*volti from Iquon. This man who had an enterprifing genius, ac-
the Tar- tuated by an unconquerable averfion to the Tartars, got
^"'"•^ ^i^ together a few men, two or three fmall barks, and with
Chinere ^ ^^^ force turned pirate. In a fhort fpace of time, his
power increafed to fuch a degree, that he became ex-
tremely formidable to the Tartar emperor ; who, finding
that his foible was ambition, offered to make him king of
the two great provinces of Canton and Fokien ; and lent
for him to Focheu, where he promifed to give him the
inveftiture of his new dignity ; but, inftead of keeping
his word, he caufed him to be feized, and condu6led to
Pekin, where he was foon after poifoned '. This taylor,
V^ho was fo near being a king, had a fon, whofe name
i Voyages de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales, torn. x. p, 2io»
fii. k Neuville Hift. van HoU. a deel. lib, xi, cap. ij,
1 Papper tvveede Ge^antfchap paar Sina, fol* ^z»
th-e Dutch in the Eaji Indku *
was Coxlnla, or Coxen^a, who, on his father's imprifon-
ment, took upon him the command of the fleet. Hefirft
demanded fuccours from the Dutch, which they refufed;
and this repulfe provoked him to fuch a degree, that he
refolVed to turn his whole force againft P'ormofa; the
xather, becaufe he had good intelligence within the Dutch
town, and knew that their affairs were in a very bad
condition "". He affembled, with this view, a fleet of fix
hundred fail, mod of them frigates of fmaJl force, but
near one hundred vv ere flout fliips of war, of forty guns
and upwards. The news of thefe great preparations
reaching the ears of the Dutch governor, who was at
that time Mr. Frederick Cojet, he difpatched advice to
Batavia, and demanded fpeedy fuccours, and fent alfo to
Japan, for the afliilance of fuch Dutch fliips as happened
to be there. All his precaution, however, was to no
purpofe j for, before any relief could come, Coxenga
Jent his fleet, under the command of his uncle Souja,
which appeared before the place in the month of March
i66i «•
The Dutch governor fent a detachment of three hun- UU Jm^
dred and fifty men, to prevent the landing of their troops, ^f^'^ ^**
who behaved as well as men could do ; but to little pur- Z*^'^"* -^ ,
pofe, fince the Chiiiefe landed forty thoufand men. They 7ekl-vest9
foon cut off the communication between the town and the retovsr
ifland, and having made themfelves matters of the adja- Formofa,
cent country, Coxenga treated all who had joined the f^^^^'*^**
Dutch in the fame manner as Nicholas Werburgh, who ' *
was governor in 1653, had treated fuch as were concerned
in the rebellion.; that is to fay, he put them to death,
with all the marks of fhame and cruelty he could invent,
iind without the lead regard to age, fex, or quality. He
afterwards attacked ail the out- works at the fame time,
a difpoiition which prevented the Dutch from fuccouring
each other ; fo that thefe places were very foon carried,
though with a vaft effufion of 'blood, and the governor
was forced to retire into Fort Zealand \ The conqueror
confidering the great llrength of the place, and how unfit
his army was to undertake fieges, made choice of Mr*
Anthony Hancbroeck, the eldeft of the Duch clergymen,
^nd fent with him his brethren, two or three fchoolmaf-
^ers, and fonae of the graveit men among his prifoners, t®
TO. Voyages de la Compagnie des Indes Os jentales, torn. Xj
p. 214., 215. n 3a(nage Annales des Provinces-nnies, torn. i«
|). 670, 671, » Neuviiie Hill- van. iioil. a deel. lib. xi. cap. 13.
B 4 per-
Succours
from Ba-
iavia at-
ttmpt to
relie've the
placet but
are repel-
ledy and
obliged to
return.
. Conquefls, Settlement Sy and Dtfcoveries of
pcrfuadc the governor to furrender; declaring, that he
was content they fliould retire in fafety, and that he
would not touch the hair of a Dutchman's head, or one
farthing's worth of their goods : but if they refufed this
proportion, he would put them all to the fword without
mercy. The governor told thofe who brought him this
meflage, that he had all the forrow and concern in the
world for their misfortune ; but, at the fame time, that
there was nothing could induce him to betray his truft, or
to give up the place he commanded, into the hands of the
enemy. With this anfwer, they returned to Coxenga ;
who, as foon as he had heard it, caufed all his prifoners
to be put to death, men, women, and children p.
Having taken this barbarous ftep, he embarked the beft
part of his army on board three hundred junks, with
which he blocked up the port, while he fired upon the
fortrefs, from two batteries of twelve pieces of cannon
each. Things were in this fituation, when there arrived
from Batavia a flout fquadron of nine men of war, com-
manded by commodore Cawen, who immediately made
the beft difpofition he could for the relief of the place.
He landed, for this purpofe, all the troops he had on
board ; and, being joined by a part of the garrifon,
marched to attack fix thoufand Chinefe, that were co-
vered by a redoubt not yet mounted with cannon. Thefe
troops being well armed, and completely difciplined,
received them In order of battle ; and, though the Dutch
fought with great refolution, and renewed the attack
feveral times, they were at length obliged to retire, with
the lofs of four hundred men. The commodore then
ordered his fhips to force a pafTage into the port ; but the
junks, drawing very little water, kept clofe under the
ihore, where the great fliips durft not follow them ; and,
in this attempt, the Dutch lofl two of their beft men of
war j of which one run afhore, and had all their crew,
to the number of three hundred and eighty, killed, by the
Chinefe •, the other was blown up, by a fhot fired into
her powder-room. Commodore Cawen, perceiving that
it was impofTible for him to do any thing more, detached
two of his fhips to Japan, and, having taken on board
two hundred women and children that were in the
fort, he failed back to Batavia, with the five fhips re-
jnaining of his fcjuadron, and made an exa£l report to
p Voyages de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales, tom. x.
p. 367—377-
the
the Dutch in the Eqfl LtJi/s* g
tlie governor, and the council, of the miferable flate of
their affairs in Formofa ''.
A refolution was immediately taken, to fend an em- T/i/' qover^
baffy to the emperor of the Tartars in China, to inform nor of for-
him, that they were in danger of lofi ng Formofa, on ac- '^^'^ ^'
count of refufing to affift a Chinefe in his rebelHon : but ^'^'j//'""
not depending altogether on the fuccefs of this embalTy, furrender,
they ordered five fhips of war to be equipped, and to fail though fuc
forthwith to the relief of the place. The governor ^ours ivert
Cojet made fo obrtinate a defence, that old Souja, the ^/f" '*
uncle of Coxenga, refolved to raife the fiege, without "^
the knowlege of his nephew, with at lealt that part
of the army which he commanded. Though he managed
this defign with the utmofl fecrecy, it was fufpe£l:ed by
Coxenga, who, forgetting the nearnefs of his relation,
caufed old Souja to be arrefted, and put in irons. After
this precaution, though he had the plague and famine
in his camp, he puftied on the fiege fo vigoroufly, that
the governor found himfelf obliged to furrender, not-
withftanding the fuccours he had expefted were in fight.
Accordingly, the place being given up to the Chinefe, he
marched out with the remains of his garrifon, and, being
taken on board the fquadron, returned to Batavia j where,
inltead of his receiving the thanks of the governor-ge-
neral and council, he was committed to prifon, and kept
there a long time, under pretence that he had given up
the place too foon, becaufe the Dutch fquadron was in
fight. This misfortune, however, great as it was,
brought about a correfpondence with the Chinefe emperor,
who confented to give them his afliftance, to reftrain the
power of Coxenga, to hinder him from committing de-
predations in thofe feas, and difturbing the commerce be-
tween China and Japan : points of very high confequence
to his fubjecls, and of no lefs concern to the Dutch, who
faw the face of their affairs extremely altered, by the lofs
of this important fettlement •, fince, inftead of having the
Spani{h,Portuguefe,and Chinefe commerce, at their mercy,
they were no longer able to fend their own annual fliips
to Japan "■, but with great difficulty and danger. It is ne-
ceffary now, that we fiiould take fome notice of affairs
in Europe, in order to (hew how far they influenced thofe
in this part of the world, and what led the Dutch com-
*\ Bafnage Annalesdes Povinces-unies, torn, i. p. 673. Nenville
Hill, van Holl. 2 deel. lib. xi. cap. 15. f Dapper tweede
Cezam-fchapnaarSina, fol.^r,
lo . Conquers y Settlements^ and Dlfcoveries of
pany to pufli their conquefts on the coafts of Cormandel
and Malabar, by which they completed the ruin of the
Portuguefe.
SECT. X.
ne Nature of that Policy y hy which they totally ruined
the Power of the Portuguefe. The Caufes and Na-
ture of their Connexions with the Tartars in China.
The fVar of Macajfar, which ends in the total Re-
duElion of that potent Monarchy and his SubjeXs ;
who endeavour tojloake off the Dutch Toke^ hut zvith-
out EffeEiy though the braveji and heft difciplined
People in the Indies.
fidmuiL
^heeaetfiif COON after the reftoration of Charles the Second, a ne-
Malabar ^ gociation was fet on foot, under his mediation, be-
tween the crown of Portugal and the States General, the
war being, upon the v/hole, equally grievous to both par-
ties % inafmuch, as beudes the lofs of Brazil, the fubjedls
ef the States found thcmfelves terribly incommoded in
their trade^ by privateers under Portuguefe colours. The
treaty however went on but flowly \ of which delay it was
refolved to take advantage in the Eafl Indies, where the
company, as if they had been fovereigns within the bounds
of their charter, profecuted the war with more vigour
than ever. In 1663, they attacked Coulan, on the coaft of
Malabar, and having reduced it, they next hivefted Cana-
nor, on the fame coaft, of which, though with fome dif-
ficulty, they became m.afters \ and though their defign
was to have demolifhed the place, and to have eftabliuied
only a fa6lory, yet, when they came to coniider the cor^-
veniency and importance of its fituation, they determined
to repair the fortifications, and keep it as a fettlement of
their own. They next proceeded to Cochin, a city of
ftill greater force, and greater confequence, as being 7\ bi-
ftiop's fee, and a place of great trade. Commodore Goens
met here with much more refiftance than he expe6led, and,
during a fiege of fome continuance, loft a confiderable
number of his people ; but being refolved to become maf-
ter of the city, he profecuted his operations with fuch ob-
ftinacy, that at laft he prevailed, and the Portuguefe were
conftrained to furrender ^ When pofleiled of it, how-
» Neuvllle Hift. Van HoUande, a dsel, lib.xii. cap.iv.
ever.
the Dutch in the Eaft Indies, 1%
ever, Ke fcarce knew how to a6t, becaufe he faw the pre-
fervatioii of it was a thing of great confequence, and yet
that it would require a very numerous garrifon, and a great
cxpence, to put the fortiiications in repair.
He applied himfelf, therefore, to the general and coun- ByafleaJy
cil at Batavia, who fent him orders not to fpare either men ^nd -vi-
or money, but to pufh his fortune to the utmoft, and at S^^^us pwr-
the fame time fuppiied him with a frefh fquadron, and a ^ondua th
confiderable body of troops. This reinforcement fo en- peace comes
couraged commodore Goens, that he marched by land to too late jor
attack the city of Porca, which was the capital of a little '^'^ ^°^~
rajah, or Indian prince, who had been fubje6t to the For- ^"^^^j^*
tuguefe. But he, not caring to difpute with thofe who
had defeated his mailers, offered to become their tributary,
and to pay them the fame obedience which he had for-
merly payed to the crown of Portugal ; and this, being as
readily accepted as offered, put an end to the war on that
fide. The city of Cranganor, between Calicut and Co-
chin, fell next into his hands without a blow. Thus in
the fpace of a fingle year the Dutch expelled the Portu-
guefe outof almoft all the places they held on the coaft of
Malabar, and acquired a territory of one hundred and fifty
leagues in length, with all the trade belonging to it, which
the Portuguefe had enjoyed without interruption from the
time of their firft fettlement in India. They likewife con-
tracted an alliance with the famorin of Calicut, the king
cf Cochin, and other Indian prinqes ^
By the accefTion of Aureng Zib to the empire of the In- The com-
mits the Dutch had an opportunity of complimenting him, panyfenda
•which they did by a fplendid cmbafTy that made the power \ ^^" ^
and the influence of the company known to the great mo- j^^iy^
narch of Indoftan. As they carried magnificent prefents,
had nothing but general favours to alk, and exprefTed them-
felves in terms full of deference and refpe^l', that prince,
who had made his way to the throne by meafures not the
moil conformable to laws human or divine, was extremely
well pleafed with this application, granted their demands,
and afTured the company of his favour and prote6lion.
The king of Siam, who, in the company's fentiments,
Jay under great obligations to them, having in fome re^
fpe6l3 deceived their expectations, they, without farther
ceremony, withdrew their factories out of his dominions.
The king, jullly alarmed at this flep, and well knowing
t Report que les Direcleurs de la Compagnie des Indes Oiientales
fail a leurs H. f, oa. jz, 1664.
that
12 Conqtiefts^ Settlements, and Bifcovertes of
that it was impoflible he fhould efcape the weight of their
refentment, who were themfelves fo powerful, and who
had fuch an influence upon all his neighbours, fent imme-
diately his ambafladors to Batavia, where they were treated
very rcfpeftfully ; and, upon the king's promifing them
that no caufe of offence fhould be given them for the fu-
ture, their factories were immediately re-ellablifhed ". It
was by thefe political contrivances, intermixed with fea-
fonable a6ls of feverity upon their own people, when, ei-
ther through infolence or rapacity, they committed out-
rages upon the fubjetls of potent princes, that they raifed
their reputation to a great height, and prevailed upon
many of the Indian princes to fend their children to Bata-
via for education, where they were fometimes entertained
at the expence of the company, and all imaginable pains
taken to infufe into their minds a high idea of their na-
val power, and of their capacity to maintain that fuperio-
rity which they had fo manifefty acquired ^,
An emhajy But thefe, and other affairs of equal confequence, did
and a fleet not hinder the governor-general and council from paying a
^^VJ^^ -f P^^P^^ attention to the lofs of Formofa, or the overtures
tie Chinefe ^"^^^ ^7 ^^ emperor of the Tartars in China for refloring
eti^ainfi to them that place. There was the greater reafon to ex-
Csxenga peel that this monarch would a(5l fmcerely, becaufe Cox-
and his enga, not fatisfied with Formofa and its dependencies, had
T^^J' niade himfelf mafler of feveral iflands between that country
and China, and a6lually feized fome towns upon the con-
tinent. On the ailurances, therefore, given them by Mr.
Borel, their ambaflador to the emperor, they fitted out a
-. . great fleet of feventeen fail of large fhips, under the com-
mand of Balthafar Borth, with orders to join the Tartars,
and to a£l: with the utmoll vigour againfl Coxenga '^. On
his arrival on the coait of China he found that conqueror
in pofTeflion of the ifland of Quemoy, which the Tartars,
with all their force, were not able to take from him. The
Dutch commodore, obferving that the principal fortrefs ia
this ifland flood upon the fea-coafl, refolved to try whe-
ther it was not poffihle to take it by affault, fuppofing that
this would ftrike a terror into the enemy, and raife the
credit of the Dutch army with the Tartars*, but he quickly
found that the foldiers of Coxenga did not at all refemble
the Chinefe, for they gave him fo warm a reception, that
he was foon obliged to abandon the defign* He next de-
« Bafnage Annales des Provinccs-unies, torn. i. p. 703, 705.
*" Neuville Hift. Van Holland, a deel, lib. xii. cap. 4. * Baf-
»ag^ Annales des Provinces-unies, torn, i. p. 703.
termined
the Dutch in the Eaji Indies, 13
tetmined to attack their fleet, while the general of the
Tartars engaged their forces on fliore; a propofal to which
the latter aflented y.
This fleet of Coxenga^s confided of fourfcore large junks, 2"^^ ^'a'--
and twenty-feven fmall vefl!els, all full of foldiers and fea- ^f^L'^^''"yf*
men, and very well furnifhed with brafs cannon. The to :17f/
battle was very obftinate and bloody ; and Coxenga dif- «^w aUUs
tinguiftied himfelf as a gallant foldier, an experienced fea- t/ie Dutch-,
man, and a great captain. But the Dutch large fliipstore
his junks to pieces, fo that after an engagement which
iafted for feverai hours, he was forced to retire, but he ef-
fected his retreat in order, and with a good countenance.
The Tartar general, before the battle, began to draw up
his forces in a regular line, and all the time it Iafted look-
ed on very quietly. After all was over, the Dutch com-
modore expoftulated with him a little warmly. The Tar-
tar general anfwered, that he could not prevail upon his
men to fight ; but in cafe the Dutch would attack the ene-
my a fecond time, he believed they would behave better ^.
The commodore took the hint, and attacked Coxenga a ^^^^ ff'H/f
fecond time, and routed him entirely, but the Tartar ge- f^^'" ^^f"*
neral was as calm a fpeftator as before. This victory, ["„fa7e.'^'^
however, was of greater confequence than the former, meat, and
fmce it not only coft Coxenga all his new conquefts, but aredecei'v-
his life. The Tartars laid hold of this opportunity to de- ^'^^y '^'*''
m'oiifh the fortreflfes they had raifed, as fail as they left
them, and the Dutch were very aftive in carrying off
whatever was valuable. They afterwards made themfelves
matters of the ifland of Amoy, and the recovery of For-
mofa was looked upon as a thing certain, yet, when they
came to attempt it, they were ftrangely disappointed j for
old Souja, who had now recovered his liberty, reafliembled
the fleet and army of his nephew, and difpofed them in
fuch a manner, that there was nothing to be done againfl
them with any great profpe£l of advantage. The old Chi-
nefe, however, being a man of great wifdom and expe-
rience, was not willing to rifle all, if all might be faved
without running any hazard, and therefore had a mind to
make peace with the Tartars, and to grant the Dutch a
fettlement ^
The fon of Coxenga, however, whom the Chinefe call ^«*w re*
Tching-king-may, having difcovered the defign, defeated 'volution.
it; and, being ele£led general, feized the old man, and
*' Dapper tweec'e Gezantfchap naar Sina, fo. 97. z Baf-
ra<>e Annalts des Provinces-unies, torn. i. p. 703, a Neuville
Hilt, van Holland. 2 deel, lib, xii. chap. 4,
feilt
14 Conquejlsy Settlements, and Difcovertes of
fent him a fecond time to prifon, where in a fit of melan-
choly he difpatched himfelf with his own hands. This
young officer inherited all the fpirit and all the abilities of
his family ; and managed his affairs with fuch courage and
condu(ft, that the admiral foon found himfelf obliged to re-
turn to Batavia, without being able to execute the com-
mifTion he had received.
A/hort ac' It was not long after this vi8:ory that Tching-king-may
count of the departed this life, and left the iflandof Formofa to hisfon
»^w klnJ- Tching-ke-fan, who was, at the time of his father's demife,
dom.andof ^ child. Public affairs were indifferently well managed'by
the remit- his guardians till he grew up to man's eilate, when proving
tng this of a mild and melancholy difpofition, and perceiving that
moreto7he ^^^ Tartars had not only reduced, but put to death, the
empire of ^^"2 ^^ Fo-kicn, his principal ally, he refolved, to prevent
. China. all danger of fuiFeriiig in the like manner, by a voluntary
furrender of his dominions, to which, though againfl his
will, he was conftrained to add alfo that of his perfon, he
came to Pe-king, in the quality of an abdicated prince, in
the fummer of 1683, had a fmall penfion given him, and
in other refpe^ls was treated with kindnefs and civility.
Thus the iiland of Formofa, or at leall that part of it
which belonged to the Duitch, became reunited to the
Chinefe empire, and has continued fo ever fmce, there
being always a body of twelve thoufand regular troops
maintained therein ; but both ofHcers and foldiers are
changed once in three years, and fometimes oftener, in
order to prevent all poffibility of revolting ^,
Aneionvar The firfl war between the maritime powers after the re-
^^eaksout Iteration did not much afFe£l the Dutch affairs in the Eafl
IkinpofM - -^^^^^s> ^^^ therefore we need fay nothing of it here, but
cajary proceed rather to their war againfl the king of MacafTar,
•which is ope of the moft vigorous, and at the fame time one of the
J'^fl^ended njoft important, in which tliey had been engaged from the
katapeace, time of their firft eflablifhment. This kingdom, which
comprehends the bcfl part of the ifland of Celebes, was
then inhabited by a brave and numerotis people, whofe
monarchs, as they had never fubmitted to the Portuguefe,
hadof.courfe a ftrong averfion to the yoke of the Dutch,
with whom they were never upon good terms, on account
of the intercourfe thefe iflanders preferved vv^ith the Mo-
luccas, and the protection they gave the Portuguefe who
had taken fheker amongfl them. Yet there was not a
^ Du Halde Defer jption de TEmpire du Chine, torn. i. p. 179.
word
the Dutch in the Eaft Indies, 1.5
word faid of either of thefe caufes in the Dutch manifef-
toes -, on the contrary, they complained of the depredations
committed by the king of Macaflar. His fubjeds had
murdered fome of the Dutch that had landed in his domi-
nions, and had likewife plundered feveral lliips that had
run aftiore upon the coafts ; but, before any hoftillties were
committed, a treaty was fet on foot, by which the king
promifed to make full fatisf action for the injuries, done,
as alfo to make fuch fubmiffions as they fliould require
from him on account of thefe diforders. The company,
however, having fome diffidence as to the king's pro-
mifes, thought proper to fend their admiral, Cornelius
Speelman, who had been governor of the coail of Coro-
mandel, with a fquadron of thirteen men of war, and a
certain number of tranfports, having eight hundred fol-
diers on board, with orders to fee the late treaty executed
according to the letter in every article. Ke arrived at Ma-
calTar on the 1 9th of December, 1666*=.
Next morning came two deputies from the king, and But thb
brought with them a thoufand and fifty-fix ingots of gold, gi'^^n^ fa-
which had been promifed in fatisfa6lion for the murder ^'^f^^^^nf
of the Dutch, and alfo the fum of one thoufand four hun- p^rtv thev
dred and thirty rixdollars, in fatisfa<£lion of the veflels that atlafihait
had been plundered ; but at the fame time they declared, recourfe /»'
in the name of the king, that the fubmiffions required ^'''^•^'
were inconfiftent with his dignity, and therefore fuch as
he could not comply with. As this refufal was what the
company expe£led, and as they were alfo informed that
the king of Macaffar had fent a large fleet to attack the
ifland of Bouton, admiral Speelman immediately declared
war. Having made two defcents upon the country, he
carried off an incredible quantity of plunder, burnt fifty
villages to the ground, and about a hundred {hips in fe-
veral ports, the king not fufpefting fuch a vfit. After
thefe exploits he failed to relieve the ifland of Bouton,
which was hard prefixed by the fleet and army the king of
Macaffar had fent againft it. Admiral Speelman arrived
before that place on New-year's-day, 1667, forced a paf-
fage with his fmall veflels into the haven of Bouton, and
then proceeded to the relief of the city, which was be-
fieged by the king of Macaffar's general, at the head of
ten thoufand men. But the Dutch, attacking them in
their entrenchments, and finding means to fet their ma-
gazines on fire, forced them to raife the fiege. This •
' Neuville Hift, Van Holland, a dcel, lib. xii. cap. 19.
event,
J 5 Conquejls, Settlements^ and Dlfcotjerks of
event was followed by fuch a prodigious defertion of tlieif
army, that the generals of the king of Macaflar found
themfelves obliged to enter into a treaty with the Dutch
admiral •, and being able to obtain no better terms, fur-
rendered at difcretion **. The firft ftep they took was to
difarm their prifoners, of whom they fent five thoufand
five hundred to people a defert ifland not far from Bou-
ton; four hundred of them they kept for flaves, and five
thoufand Bougies, or auxiliaries of different nations, they
delivered up to the king of Palacca, who had been their
faithful ally during the war. They reftored to the king
of Bouton three hundred vefTels, together with whatever
plunder had been taken from his fubjcdts by the enemy,
and could be found after their defeat ; the reft of the
king of Macaflar's junks they incorporated with their own
fleet of tranfports ; and, with a hundred and ninety-five
ilandards, and all the arms and ammunition of the enemy,
with the principal officers of their army, whom they kept
prifoners, admiral Speelman returned in triumph to Ba-
tavia, where he was received with univcrfal applaufe, as
indeed his conduft well deferved ^.
the king of But the company, as the Dutch writers affirm, ftill enter-
Macajfar j-^ined great jealouiies of this monarch, to whom they were
more of ^^ lately reconciled j which feem to have proceeded from
Jbakiiig off the knowiege they had of his genius and maxims of go-
the com- vernment. It foon appeared that he had negociated only
fanfsyoke, ^q g^j^^ time, fince he began to intrigue afrefh with all
the neighbouring princes ; to whom he reprefented, that
nothing could fave them from becoming downright fub-
je61:s to the company, but entering into a clofe alliance
with each other, and employing the whole of their forces
againft the common enemy. His arguments had weight
tvith moft of his neighbours, for they were fenfible enough
that all he advanced was agreeable to truth, and therefore
not only readily entered into an alliance, but exerted
themfelves to the utmoft in raifing their refpeclive quotas ;
fo that the king of Macaffiar, as the head of the league,
<juickly appeared a more formidable enemy than ever ;
and fo much the more fo, as it was evident that no-
thing could divert him from his purpofe, and that he
mull be abfolutely crulhed before he could be brought
into a flate of dependence.
, * Relj\tion de la Guerre de la Compagnie des Indes Orientalet
centre le Roi de Maca9ar, p. 24.0. e Bafnage Annales de»
Provinces-unies, torn. ii. p. 92,
While
the "Dutch in the Eqft Indies. ly
"While he was making thefe preparations, the Dutch
Eaft India company were not either uninformed or idle ;
on the contrary, they equipped a ftout fquadron, on beard
which they embarked a confiderable number of regular
forces, at the fame time that they preiied their Indian
allies to put to fea as many veflels as they were able to
furnifh and man for fervice. They provided them ac-
cordingly, either out of regard to treaties, through their
fear of the company, or to gratify their private refent-
ments ; for their condu£l on this occafion was vifibly
again ft their natural intereft. They armed with all ima«
ginable diligence, and repaired to the place of rendezvous
as they were directed ; fo that admiral Speelman, on the
8th of June, failed from Amboyna with fixteen veffels
and fourteen fhallops, on board of which were the fuc-
cours fumifhed by the king of Palacca and Ternate. Ar-
riving, on the 19th of July in the morning, on the coaft,
he attempted to force a pallage into the port of MacaiTar,
but was warmly repulfed j for the king having ereded a
fort for the defence of the place, the Dutch, after twenty-
four hours cannonading, were forced to retire. A fe\v^
days after the admiral was joined by apart of the fleet
which had been feparated from him by a ftorm 5 and on
the 2d of Auguft he made a defcent with his whole force
at a place called Gliflbn. His army at this time confifted
of fix hundred Dutch troops, three hundred difciplined
Indians in the company's pay, three thouumd from Ter-
nate and Bouton, feven thoufand Bougies, eight hundred
feamen, and two independent companies under the com-
mand of the captains Joncker and »Strycker. But the
forces of the enemy were incomparably greater, for they
amounted at leaft to twenty thoufand men, under the
command of all the little kings and princes that the mo-»
narch of Macaffar had drawn over to his party. Admiral
Speelman kept the main body near his fleet, and detached
one hundred men to attack the caftle of Glifibn in the
night. The king of Palacca, who was entrufted with the
management of this affair, executed it with fuch conduct,
that by three in the morning he became mafter of the place ;
of which fuccefs he gave notice to the Dutch admiral,
who immediately fent him fuch reinforcements and fup-
phes as were requifite to preferve this acquifition K
This was a dreadful blow to the enemy ; and, as the
admiral very juilly forefaw, the firft thing they did was
f Neuville Hift. van Holland, 2 deel. liv. xii. chap. 19,
Mod. Vol. IX. C to
1 8 Conquejlsy Settlements^ and Dlfcoveries of
But did not ^^ attempt the recovery of it ; In which they were fo far
Jubm'u till from fucceeding, that, after three general aflauhs, in each
again de of which they lofl a great number of men, they were
fer'edby forced to defilt. Such mukitudes of bombs and red-hot
bullets were fired from this fortrefs into the enemy's camp,
as threw them into the utmoil conflernatlon ; vv^hich oppor-
tunity was not let flip by the Dutch general, who attacked
the entrenchments, at the fame time that a vigorous fally
was made from the caftle, and obliged the enemy to quit
all their pods. General Speelman foon after embarked
his forces, and tranfported them to another part of the
iiland, w^here he deftroyed a multitude of villages. As
this war was attended with great lofles and inconveniences
on both fides, a negociation was fet on foot to try what
could be done towards fettling a peace. The king of Ma-
cafiar was very unwilling to let thefe deliberations be fpun
out, becaufe he found his Indian allies deferting him by
degrees, and making peace for themfelves ; which exam-
ple of their's he refolved to follow, by fubmitting to fuch
terms as he could obtain, v/hich were indeed none of the
mofl reafonable; and fo the treaty was concluded on the
1 8th of November, 1667 ; in confequence of which the
regents of the ifland, and ail the neighbouring princes, as
well as the king of Macaflar, fent a numerous and folemn
embalTy to the governor-general John Maatfuyker at Ba-
tavia, to make their fubmifTion to the company for their
pafl conduct s.
A hold at' Meanwhile, the rainy feafon coming on, occafioned
tempt ex- fuch a mortality among the Dutch army and navy, as in-
atedb^ de- duced^the Indians to hope they might gain fome advant-
J^^^'^' ages. They were therefore tempted to break the peace, '
by mafTacring a great number of the dying foldiers, and
two of the captains ; upon which the war broke out again,
and continued with as great violence as ever for two years,
in which time the fuccefs of admiral Speelman was fo
great, and the calamities brought upon the natives of
Macalfar were fo- many and fo heavy, that at laft they
were forced, in order to obtain a peace, to fend a new
ambafTador to Bafavia, and to make all the fubmiflions
the company could require. After all, they were left to
the mercy of Speelman, who by a new treaty, concluded
on the J 5 th of June, 1669, not only renewed the treaties
of the 19th of Auguft, 1660, and the i8th of November,
B Relation de la Gnen e de la Compagnie dea Indes Orientales
contre le Roy de la rvlaca9ar, p 234,235.
1667,
tie hutch m the Eqft Indies^ "^9
1667, but alfo impofed upon them other conditions ftlll
more grievous and intolerable^. From this period the
company have confidered all difputes rather as infurrec-
tions and rebellions than wars with equal and free powers*
This treaty fixed the trade of fpices entirely, and without
control, in the hands of the company: formerly, both
the Portuguefe and the Englifh found means to purchafe
them in Celebes, that is to fay, nutmegs, mace, and
cloves, which were carried thithei; from the Moluccas,
and it may be from other countries with which the Eu-
ropeans have now no correfpondence* As for cinnamon,
not content with pofTeiTmg all the true fpice in the iiland
of Ceylon, they puflied their conquefts on the continent
of Malabar, with this view, amongfb others, that they
might deftroy the baltard, or wild cinnamon, which grew
about Cochin, and in which the Portuguefe drove a con-
fiderable trade when they were no longer mafters of the
better fort K
SECT. XL
The Eafl India Company* s Fourth Charter. Manage
their /iff airs with equal Bifcretion and Succefs. Btf'
appoint the French in their At tempts to fix themfelves
in the IJland of Ceylon, and profecute^ thdr Oppojition
to that Nation with fignal Advantage,
"DUT let us now turn our eyes a little to Europe, where 7^^ Dutch
we {hall find that the Eaft India company had wore Eafi India.
out their third charter, and confequently found them- company
felves under the neceffity of procuring a new term, in fil^j^"j*^^iffg
which they met with fome difficulty. The concerns of y^^;^^,
the republic were then managed by the De Wits and their cultyy a
fadion, who were no friends to any monopoly, and had farther
in particular no great veneration for this. The penfion- ^^^^^ '"
ary John De Witt thought that companies might be necef- ffjsrce*
fary when new branches of commerce were to be opened,
and new eftablifliments made ; he thought the acquifition
of the Moluccas necefiary, and that of Batavia expedient ;
but, as to the great power that the company afterwards
aflumed, he judged it not at all beneficial to the Dutch
nation. He faw, and he made no fcrupie of declaring it,
h See the Treatifes at the end of the Relation before cited^ and
which are alfo inferted in the Corps Diplomatique, * Memoires
fur le Commerce des llollandois, p. 148.
C 2 that.
20 Conquefts, Settlements^ and Dtfcoveries of
that, as to the Dutch employed in the Eaft India fettle-
men ts, they were for the moft part the very fcum of the
people, debauched, neceflitous, without principles, rapa-
cious, and profligate ; all which vices he conceived arofe
from the flavifh terms put upon them by the company, to
which none would fubmit who could poffibly live at home,
or knew how to get abroad at their own expence, whence
he apprehended that there was not that folid ftrengthln
their eftablilhments which was commonly imagined. He
believed that fo fevere an adminiftration could never be
beloved, but niuft depend chiefly on the military and mer-
cenary force maintained for its fupport ; and at the fame
time he was convinced, that, to alter thefe maxims, or to
relax any thing of this feverity, was not to be expedled ^
For thefe reafons, therefore, he regretted that this trade'
was not in fome meafure laid open ; a Hep which would
naturally have drawn a better fort of people to the Indies,
who would have gradually raifed colonies of another kind,
more defenfible ihan, in cafe of a general war, thofe fet-
tled by the company would In all probability prove. Yet,
in fpite of all thefe obje£lions, a nev/ charter was procured,
by the help of what procures all things, a large fum of
ready money, which the circumftances of the ftate at that
time made very convenient, and in confideration of which
the company had a grant of twenty-one years, to be
reckoned from the beginning of 1666 ^.
Remarkt j^ jg^ however, worthy of remark, that, within this
nJ «»• ^^^ period of which we have been fpeaking, the company,
oj^t/ie com- notwithftandlng the prodigious expencesto which fhe
pany has flood expof(id, and the great interruption of her trade
frocu>ed during two wars vvith England, when whole fleets were
an addt- requifite to efcort her outward and her homeward-bound
jit fo the ^ips> feveral of which were however taken, notwithftand-
propngtors, ing the long wars maintained in the Indies againft the
Chinefe t?.ylor and his defcendents in Formofa, the Portu-
guefe in Ceylon and Malabar, and the king of Macaflar
. and his allies ; and notwithflanding the augmentation of
the company's civil lifi;, which was in itfelf become a pro-
digious thing, and equal to more than the whole profits of
the company's trade during their firft term ; yet, notwith-
flanding all thefe, the dire<Stors divided four hundred and
fifty per cent, upon their capital, M'hich was about forty
per cent, more than they divided in the preceding term
1 Grondf n en Maximen van de Republieck van Holland, 1 dee],
chap. xxvi. '" Di6tionaire de Coramerce, torn. ii. col. 1091.
from
the Dutch In the Eajl Indies. 21
from \6^^ to 1644". We may from hence difcern Iiow
well, in refpc6l to their immediate profit, the pains they
had taken to root out all competition at the markets to
which they traded had anfwered, and how great a gainer
the company was become by dint of the power and influ-
<:nce which they had acquired, notwithftanding the pro-
digious fums expended, and which they continued to
expend ; from all which particulars, we may colle6i: how
great the lolfes muft have been which the Englifh and
Portuguele fuftained, from whom this additional com-
merce was taken ; and how little things were underflood
by their refpetlive governments at home, when they were
content to overlook fuch lofles for the fake of a precarious
peace, or, which was worfe, to accept of a paltry fatisfac-
tion, and thereby bar their own right to reprifals when the
alteration of affairs, or the favour of Providence, fhould
put it in their power to make them. At the fame time
this fhews the wifdom of the Dutch company, that never
ftinted money when negociations were upon the carpet,
but, by applying dextroufiy, and paying handfomely, pro-
cured good claufes to be inferted for them, of which their
advocates knew how to make the beft ufe, when, on the
breaking out of frefh difturbances, old clamours were
revived againfh them, which might, by a little induftry,
or a lucky turn of fortune, have been converted into
well-grounded claims, but for thefe prudent precau-
tions ''.
The great prudence, and admirable addrefs, of thofe ^^^ ^^^^^
who managed the company's affairs, were as confplcuous pruuence
in their domeflic tranfa£l:ions with the States General as i^*' dtrec^
in their condu^l in the Indies; for, when the perfon in- '"''■' ^^'
trufted with the command of their hOmeward-bound fleet ^rfvatl'^s
went, according to cuftom, to pay his refpefts to the oyW/^/
States, he was inflru61:ed to make fuch a reprefentation of pul>iic af-
their affairs as might ferve to fhew how beneficial this ^^'^'-^ ■' ^^'^
commerce was to the public, what difnculties the com- ^''^P'^^Jf'
pany had to ftruggle with, and what a fingular degree of
patrlotifm was evident in the whole adminiflration of her
dominions and commerce.
Thefe reprefentations were very well calculated to
fmoGth the way for the renewing of their charter ; which
" Janigon Erat prefent de la Repuhlique des Provinces-unies,
torn ?. p. 16. o See the feveral treaties of peace conciutied,
within this period, betyvec^n the States and other powers.
C % was
2 2 Conquefis^ Settlements^ and Dlfccveries of
was brought about the next year, but not without paying a
round fum to the treafure of the union.
Afucr.nB About this time things began to take a wrong turn in
mcount cf ^^^^ kingdom of Tonquin, where hitherto they had carried
ihe^ountry ^^ ^ ^.^^^ lucrative commerce for above thirty years. The
previous to fituation of the country, the power of" its monarch, and
//se relation the obftinate attachment of his fubje£ls to their own
$f the com-, manner of living, prevented the Portuguefe from fettling
t^"yj amongft them^ even v/hen their power was at its height
in the Ealt j and what might perhaps farther contribute
to give them a diflafte to this country, was the averfion
teitified by its inhabitants upon all occafions to the Chrif-
tian religion p.
Kife, pro- Some of the Dutch fa£lory in Japan being informed
grefs, and that a fmall fquadron went annually from thence to
decoy of Tonquin, and that a confiderable trade was alfo carried
merce ' ^^^ thither from China, one Mr. Charles Hartfink pro-
pofed to the Dutch chief to fend a vefiel from Japan to
'ionquin, by which means there was a probability of
opening a new trade. His fcheme was accepted ; and he
himfelf fent thither on board a velTel, freighted not only
with all the commodities ufually carried thither from
Japan, but thofe of Europe befides, together with various
curiofities that it was fuppofed might prove acceptable
prefents to the king of Tonquin j for there is no country
in the Indies vvhere any favour can be obtained, or the
leafl degree of credit acquired, without the interpofition
of prefents. By the help of them, and his own infinuat-
ing addrefs, Mr. Hartfink was as well received as he
could defire -, and difpcfed of all his commodities at a high
price, and in a very fhort time carried a valuable cargo to
Batavia 'J. General Van Diemcn, who then prefided over
the Dutch affairs, commended him highly for his care and
diligence, refolved to fettle a factory at Tonquin without
delay, of which Mr. Charles Hartfink had the direction j
but though this was a very confiderable preferment in itfelf,
yet it wa3 fcarce any thing in comparifon of what he ob-
tained in that country, where the king, to manifeft his
cfteem for him, took him into his counfels, beftowed on
him the liigheft titles of honour ; and at length, as if he
had nothing more to give, by a folemn inltrument in
writing, adopted him for his fon ^ Under his manage-
p Geographic Moderne, par Abraham du Bois, p. 654.
? Di6tionaire de Commerce, to«ii ii. col. 809.. ' Memoires
dt'Dr. Garvin,
ment.
the Dutch in the Eaft Indies. - ' 23
ment, and that of fome fucceeding chiefs, all things went
on as profperoully as the company could defirej but at
length jeaioufies and difcontents arofe, which, though
pacilied for a time, broke out afreOi, and, by their coni'e-
quences, leflencd the trade to fuch a degree, that at length
the company thought fit to withdraw their factory,
though their fliips fometimes vifit the coads of Tonquin
occaiionally, and, like other Europeans, are permitted
to trade freely, but without receiving fuch encouragement
as to excite any defire of refettling in the fiime manner as
formerly ^
The defire of embellifliing Batavia, and augmenting the The great
conveniences the company have there, beyond^ thole of application
any of the European fettlements in India, was in none '^^ ^"^ ^°~
more confpicuous than in John Maatzuyker, who, as he j^j f/^^ jl^,
enjoyed that oflice many years, fo he left behind him ^Hes to the
various monuments of his attention to the public fervice. beautifying
In his time were erefted thofe vaft magazines for fpices, Batavia*
and other rich merchandize, that are at this day one of
the great ornaments of that rich and beautiful city. In
the conftru6lion of them, care was taken to provide a
magnificent apartment for the receiver-general, who re-
fides there with all the officers under his infpe£lion. He
is obliged every morning, at half an hour after ten, to
repair to the governor's clofet, where he makes a report
of the paflages of the preceding day, of the fliips entered
and cleared, and of the fums received for the company's
ufe^ Near his apartment there is another for the princi-
pal furgeon, his aflTillants and fervants, together with all
conveniences for preparing medicines of every kind : thefe
buildings were finiftied in the year 1670. About the fame
time alfo the great dock and yards in the illand of Onrooft
were alfo completed, where every thing neceiTary to build-
ing, equipping, and preferving the company's fliips, is
provided in fuch abundance, and furnifhed with fuch
readinefs, under the direction of an officer who is flyied
e'quipage-mafter, that the company can build, repair, and
refit their vefiels, without the leail lofs of time, and in
the moft complete manner imaginable ". It was likewife
during his adminiflration that the hall of the mechanic
arts vvas erected, one of the nobleft, and at the fame time
one of the moil ufefui foundations that the v/it or induflry
s Memoires fur le Commerce des Indes, p. 20T. \ Janigan
Erat prefent de la Repubiique des Provinces-unies, tom. i. p. 3^7.
« Nieuhofr, Ltguar, Le Brun, &c.
C i. of
24
Conquefts, Settlements, and Difcoveries of
T.nterprize
■of the
French on
Ceylon^ by
thejijogef-
iion of a
{itreSIor,
defer ibid.
of man could contrive. In this the painters, engravers,
fcuiptors, armourers, potters, carvers, &c. in the com-
pany's fervice have their feparate dwellings and workfhops,
where they execute the orders they receive with the utmoli
punftuality, under the infpecSlion of the city architedl,
who has a grand apartment, and a falary proportioned to
his abilities and Cervices "",
In the fecond Dutch war, in the reign of king Charles II.
the Dutch were fo fortunate as to make themfelves mailers
of the iiiand of St. Helena, a conqueft of no great im-
portance to them, confidering its vicinity to the Cape of
Good Hope ; but of infinite detriment to the Englifh, who
therefore fpared no pains to recover it, and were no lefs
fuccefsful j but their difputes with our nation, during that
war, were nothing in comparifon of the dilturbance given
them by the French, which itruck at the very heart of
their empire in the Indies. This was owing to one Mr.
Carron, who had been many years in the Dutch Eail In-
dia company's fervice, a man of quick parts, an enter-
prifing genius, and equally hafty and determined in his
refentments. He was either llighted or fufpe6ted at Ba-
tavia, an affront which made fuch an impreffion upon his
fpirit, as induced him, upon his return to Europe, to make
a tender of his fervices to the French court, v/here he was
well received, on account of his perfect acquaintance v/ith
the commerce of the Indies. A¥hile Carron's propofals in
relation to Japan were under confideration, the war broke
put, and gave a new turn to affairs, as it enabled him,
and another perfon much in the fame circumflances, to
offer a plan for attacking the Dutch in the Indies ; which,
as in itielf very plaufibly contrived, was highly relifhed by
a miniflry at that time intent upon humbling the republic.
We fliall have occafion to fpeak more largely of this expe-
dition in the courfe of this work, and fhall therefore content
ourfelves at prefent with fhewing how dangerous this defign
was, by the forces of the Eafh India company, under the
conduct of a very able and gallant commander, entirely de-
feated ^
The plan propofed to the French court by Mr. Carron
and Mr. Martin, who had been likewife in the Dutch Eafl
India company's fervice, was to make a defcent upon the
,^^^y^^^(,y ifland of Ceylonj, and to reduce the fortrefs of Ponte de
the French
w ]ani9on Etat prefent de la Republique des Protinces-unies,
torn. J. p. 336, 337. X Hiltoire de la Ccnipagnie des Indes,
Gallo,
isircvm'
fiances
fer<ving to
heighten
mintjiry to
make an
imprclfion
in the in-
dies.
the Dutch in the Eafl Indies, 25
Gallo, which they judged would prove an advantageous
fettjement, might be preferved againft the whole power of
the Eaft India company till fupplies arrived from France \
and with what other conquells they could make, confign-
ed to the French crown by fuch a treaty of peace, as, if
the republic fhould fuftain herfelf againft that war, might
be prefcribed by a vi(5lorious monarch ^. While this mif-
chief was meditating, the Dutch Eafl India fleet arrived
fafe in Holland, after the breaking out of the war in 1672,
with a cargo valued at upwards of fixteen millions of guil-
ders ; a circumftance, which, however happy both for the
company and commonwealth % could not fail of raifmg
the envy of her neighbours, and of ftniiulating the French
miniftry to negledl nothing that promifed the diminution
of a commerce fo beneficial to a republic, that gave um-
brage to a prince too ambitious to endure the profperity of
a free government. The fleet employed in this expedition
confifted of fixteen fail, well manned, and thoroughly pro-
vided with every thing neceflary to put their defign in exe-
cution. The Sieur de la Haye, who was veiled with the
fupreme command, had quitted a very beneficial civil em-
ployment, on purpofe to gratify his natural propenfity to a
military life, for which he had (hewn himfelf fully quali-
fied by a feries of a6lions that might be regarded as fo
many teflimonies both of his conduiSl and his courage,
though fome have fuggefted that this was fuperior to his
abilities, and that he failed for want of a capacity equal in
all refpedls to the conqueft committed to his care.
This fquadron arrived in the proper feafon upon the D'lfap-
coaft of Ceylon, where, agreeable to their inllrudlions, pointment
they made an attempt upon Ponte de Gallo, but without v^t^t pro*
fuccefs ; concerning which, however, there is fome va- ^[^^ caufes
riety of opinions. The French writers pafs this matter <very dif-^
over in general terms ; the Dutch fay the fortrefs was in ferently
a good condition, and the governor made a gallant de- reported, by
fence ; fo that the French, defpairing of fuccefs, thought S^^Ta/^
it wifeft to withdraw. Hamilton, in his account of the nations
Fail Indies, fays, Martin flattered himfelf all along that he
ihould have the government of the place ; but finding, in
his paflage, that this command was otherwife difpofed of,
he gave things fuch a turn, as made the taking, or even
the attacking, that fortrefs, altogether impradicable ^.
y Journal du Voyage des Granges Indes, Paris, 1698, iimo.
7 Neuviile Hiftoire van Holland, iiv. xiv. chap.yii. a Hamilton's
N/ew Account of the Eall: Indies, vol. i. p. 343.
The
26 Conquefls^ Settlements^ and Dlfccveries of
The Sieur de la Haye proceeded tlien to Trinquemala bay,
where he reduced the fortrefs, into which he put a good
garrifon, and landed for their ufe one hundred and two
pieces of cannon. The joy conceived upon this conqueft
1-afted not long; for the Dutch commodore Rylckloft van
Goens arriving with a fleet of equal flrength upon the
coall, the French were glad to retire, even with fome
lofs ^. However, when they came upon the oppofite coaft
of Coromandel, the Sieur de la Haye formed a projeft for
furprifing the town of St. Thomas, a place remarkably
well fortified by the Portuguefe in the time of their pro-
fperity, and of which they had been difpoiTeffed by the
Dutch about twelve years before. The place was very
large, in tolerable good condition, with magazines well
provided ; notwithftanding which, the French officer took
his meafures fo well, as to carry his point with the lofs of
five men only. Here he left a flrong garrifon of fix hun-
dred men, with every thing necelTary ; and knowing that
he was not in a condition to perform any thing more, re-
folved to return into Europe ^. In the mean time commo-^
dore Goens had retaken 1 rinquemala, and made the gar-
rifon prifoners of war \ and then paffing over to the Coro-^
mandel coaft, made the French feel the weight of their
own cannon ; fo that the Sieur de la Haye, who came in-
to thofe parts as a conqueror, left them but by permiffion ;
and in his return, one of his vellels being fliipwrecked in
the fight of the port of Lilbon, the famous Mr. Carron,
through the malice of his pilot, was, with two captains,
and fome other officers, drowned; fo that this fquadron,
of which fuch exalted hopes were conceived, anfwered
in the event but very indifferently **. '
K fieBions When the Dutch had time to reflect upon what had
made by the happened, and to confider how dangerous a thing, in re-
Dutch on fpect to the whole fyftem of their commerce in the Indies,
this at" 2. French fcttlement at Trinquemala would have been, they
temptj its Q2i^-^Q |-Q jiave a true notion of the fervice done them by
and proba- commodore Van Goens, whom the company foon after
ble confe- rewarded with the highell preferment they had to beftow.
f^uences. Yet the pofleffion of St. Thomas, though at a confiderable
diftance from them, and by which they were very little in-
commoded, kept them ftill in fome pain : they knew the
French were apt to be difgufted when projects were un-
^ Bafnage Annales des Provinces-unies, torn, ii, p. 458,
c Voyages des Indes Orientales, psr Carre, torn; ii. p. 217.
*■ iiiltoire des Indes Orientales, torn. iii. p. 147.
lucky.
the Dutch in the Eqft Indies, 2 7
lucky, and that at this time they had many irons in the
fire ; but they forefaw, that if this place continued long
in their hands, the miniftry would become fenfibie of its
importance, and perhaps incline to take fuch meafures for
its prefervation as might render it difficult, if not imprac-
ticable, to wreft it out of their hands *^.
They thought proper, therefore, in the year 1674, to Which ht'
ftir up the jealoufy of the king of Golconda againft thefe ^"^^ ^^l^"*
new comers : having engaged him to befiege the place by /^/'J^^'* t
land, they fent a confiderable fleet to affift in the redu£lion Golconda
of it by fea ; in which expedition, however, they were to befiege^
not very fortunate ; for the French governor having a good ^'^^> ^'Jf
garrifon, and being well provided with necelTaries, made ' ^^^ ^•^"
a much better and more vigorous defence than was ex- ^^^^^ j-^'
pe6ted ; infomuch, that the Dutch fleet found it requifite Thomas,
to retire to an adjacent port, where they landed a con-
fiderable body of men, who joined the king's army. This
reinforcement determined them to continue the fiege, till
at length, by dint as well of famine as force, they brought
the garrifon to furrender, though upon honourable terms ;
and thus, as the Dutch imagined, the French thorn was
finally extracted, fo that they would be no more heard of
in India ^ In this hope, however, they were difappoint-
ed ; for, from the miferable remains of the garrifon, by
the prudence and fagacity of the officer who commanded
them, a new fettlement arofe at Pondicherry, which in pro-
cefs of time became a place of very great importance s.
SECT. XII.
nis ConduEt of the Company entitles them to great Fa-
vour at home : the Nature and Succefs of their Policy
in the IJle of Java : refolve to drive the French out
of the ■ Indies ; in confequence of which they at tacky
and render themjelves Majiers of Pondicherry,
npHE (hare the company took in this war, the great ex- The com^
pences they v/ere at upon thefe and other occafions, P^^y^ '»
the heavy loiTes they fuftained by their fhips taken at St. ""f^'^^^'^'
Helena, and elfewhere, by the Engliffi, the advanced price ^°any fer-
of whatever fupplies were fent them, and it may be fome 'vices, ob-
tain cer-
c Bafnage Annales des Piovinces-unies, torn. ii. p. 554. ^Ja- i^^^'^ indul-
nigon Etat de la Republique des Provinces Unies, torn. i. p. 312. fief^t^es at
% Huloire des Iiules Odentales, torn. ii. p. loa, ^iome-
contributions.
28 Conquefts, Settlements^ and T>ifc over m, of
contributions, which, in regard to the diftrefled condition
of the commonwealth, they furnifhed at home, gave them
an opportunity of aiking and obtaining a very favourable
compofition in refpeft to the duties upon their importa-
tions, in which they were to have a Hated abatement ;
and in regard to their exportations, for which they were
to pay an annual fubfidy of fixteen thoufand florins, in full
fatisfaiiion ; which contraft freed them as well from frcr
quent difputes, as from many other inconveniences".
Methods hy After the peace of Nimeguen, when they were free from
mrhick they any apprehenfion of feeing hoftile fquadrons in the Indies,
jecureto they, renewed their negotiations with ieveral of the little
ihemfelves princes, in order to fecure the monopoly of the trade in
wercetf their dominions. This in mod places they might have
the indies, commanded, as the Portuguefe adtuaily did, on account of
their fuperior force ; but they rather made choice of this
method than that, for the following reafon : they were
apprehenfive that, in cafe they had reftrained the com-
merce of other nations, in the ports of thefe princes, by
open force, their behaviour in the Indies might have been
queflioned in Europe, and the States General obliged to
interpofe in a cafe that might have been conftrued a vio-
lation of treaties ; whereas by making alliances with thefe
petty princes, in which they ftipulated to vend their ftaple
commodities to the company only, they made this denial
of trade to other nations to be the a^l of thofe princes, for
which therefore neither the company nor the States Gene-
ral were anfwerable by the law of nations '.
D'lfpofedto They were no lefs affiduous in contriving to free them-
render felveci from thofe dangers to which they were continually
ihemfel-ves expofed in their capital fettlement upon the ifland of Java ;
independ- ^^^ from which, though they had hitherto defended them-
Tur^hi the ^^^"^^^ ^^ fome meafure by force, but much more by their
ijlandof conftant vigilance and numerous precautions, yet were
Ja'va. they never without apprehenfions, and thofe too not' arif-
ing from flight fufpicions, but from caufes that were but
too well founded, which, therefore, for the fake of do-
medic peace and fettled fecurity, they held themfelves ob-
liged to try every method to remove.
jltvleio of Thefe powers were the king of Materan, or, as he flyled
the political himfelf, the emperor of Java, and the king of Bantam,
moti-ves to, ^ow ao independent prince, though his predeceflbrs were;
and many * o *
/wt"^ !/■ ^ ^""^^^ Plackaat Boek, iv. deel, fo. 1327. i Corps Uni-
theT'l'^Q verfeile Diplomatique, tom. vi. part. ii. p. 454. torn, vii. part, i,
'Jfiu p. 61. ibid, p, 76.
' only
je^s.
the Dutch in the Eaji Indies, 29
t>nly governors of that city and province for the emperor.
The Dutch had done their bufmefs by playing thefe mo-
narchs againll each other, which game, though they had
hitherto managed with much dexterity, and with incre-
dible fuccefs, yet they doubted, and with reafon, whether
this could be done for ever, and therefore they thought it
much more expedient for them to bring both under their
power, not in the way of an abfolute conqueit, for that
was impoflible, but by having the perfons of thefe mo-
narchs in their hands, and thereby as abfolute a direction
of their aflairs as of any of the little princes before men-
tioned j a fcheme flrange and difficult, more efpecially as
both princes were jealous and diffident of them to the
higheit degree, which, neverthelefs, in thefpaceofa few
years they actually accomplilhed ; and though it be true
that they have not ever fnice been able to keep the em-
perors of Java in a conftant and drift fubmiffion ; and
though it is no lefs true, that they are at all times under
a neceffity of treating both monarchs with all the exterior
marks of deference and refpeft imaginable -, yet it is very
certain, they have no longer thofe apprehenfions from the
emperor's power they formerly had ; and that, as for the
king of Bantam, he is almofl as much at their devotion as
the company's king of the Hottentots at the Cape of Good
Hope ^.
The emperor of Java is, in point of religion, a Moham- AfucclnSt
medan ; and, according to the practice of moft eaftern '^efcriptioK
monarchs, conftantly ferved by women, of whom he ''•^ / .
, ' t; 1 r • 1- court and
takes as many as he pleales, as wives or concubmes. condition of
Some of his priefls are obliged to go every year in pil- the emperor
grimage to Mecca, to make vows for the fafety and pro- <?/ Ja'voy
fperity of the king and royal family. His fubjedls are ex- '^'^^' ^J^^*'
tremely faithful, and to the laft degree devoted to his fer- ^rimtl
vice. The principal perfons in his court are obliged, at princes,
every audience, to approach him creeping on their knees ; leads a life
only in time of war this flavifh cuftom is difpenfed with, ''ffothful
Such as commit the llightell fault are poniarded on the ^/^^'"^C^*
fpot with a little dagger called a krid ; and as this is the
only puniffiment in ufe, fo the flighteft, as well as the
greateft faults, are among thefe people capital. The na-
tives of this country are for the moft part of a brown com-
plexion, tolerably well (haped, and have long black hair,
which however they often cut. Their nofes are flat and
broad, and their teeth exceffively bad, a dcfed: imputed to
k Journal du Voyage de Siam, par TAbbe de Choify, p. i8r.
their
3°
But, tn the
midjl cj his
leivd and
luxurious
life, ii a
*very
fO'ioerful
andformi-
dable moit'
arch.
CoftqueJIs, Settlements, and Difcoverles of
their betel and faufel, which they chew continually '. The
faufel is a kind of nut, fomething fmaller than the nut-
meg, without tafle, and yielding, when chewed, a red
juice. It is this juice that the Indians make ufe of in
painting the chintfes which we admire fo much in Europe.
The tree from whence they gather this nut is very ftrait,
and refembles in its leaves the cocoa-tree. The betel is a
plant which produces long rank leaves, in their fliape re-
fembling thofe of a citron •, in tafle they are of an agree-
jcble bitter. The fruit grows in the ihape of a lizard's tail,
about two finger's breadth, very long, of an aromatic fla-
vour, and in its fmell extremely grateful. The Indians
carry with them continually the leaves of betel at allvifits;
they are prefented in ceremony, and the natives arealmoft
perpetually chewing them. As the tafte is very bitter,
thev for the m.oft part qualify them with araca taufel, or
the powder cf calcined oyfler-fhells. Thus prepared, they
have a very agreeable flavour. After they have chewed
the juice Out of them, they fpit forth the dry mafs. There
are fome who mix their betel leaves with lime, amber, and
cardamom feeds ; others with China tobacco '".
The emperor of Java, though he leads an ina£Live life,
in a great meafure furrounded by women, and diverted
daily by their p^mtomime entertainments, is neverthelefs
a very pov^^erful monarch ; that is to fay, he holds ail the
eaft and fouth countries of the ifland of Java under his
dominion, which is a vaft extent of territory, and ex-
ceedingly well peopled ; but a difpute arifmg in reference
to the fucceffion, divided the princes into factions, and
armed all the people of Java againfl each other. The
Dutch took advantage of their diflenlion, raifed one bro-
ther to the imperial throne, or at leaft kept him upon it
by their afliilance, and drove two other princes into the
mountains j it is very probable they might have ended the
Avar, but that was not their intereit. They perfuaded the
reigning monarch, in 1677, to remove from bis old feat
St Meteran to Kattafura, which was a point of great ccn-
fcquence to them. There, for his farther fecurity, they
got leave to ereft a fort, in which they keep a ftrong gar-
rifon. They have likewife a court of guard in his very
palace, placed there out of pure tendernefs and refpc{fl for
his perfon, and that he may never be at a lof;^ for his faith-
ful defenders either againfb open enemies, or fecret trai-
^ HiftoJre de I'Expedit'on de trois Vaiflean, vol. ii. p. 36, 37.
Relation dc la Villede Batavia, par Nicolas de Graaf..
tors.
the Dutch In the Eajl Indies.
tors. Under this pretence they keep a conftant watch over
his actions, while he poflelTes in his own imagination a
power as arbitrary and unreftrained as ever ; with the ad-
ditional advantage of having Europeans at his command,
in cafe, that by any of thofe vioient a£ls of power which
are ever frequent enough in fuch courts, he fnould pro-
voke any of his princes, whom in their language they ilyle
Pangarangs, to confpire againil him ". This new regula-
tion was brought to bear about the year t68o ; and, as far
as any authentic relations that we met with reach, ftill
fubfifts ; though the company have fometimes differences
with him, and are conftantly obliged to cajole him by
fplendid embaflres and coflly prefents ; but, in return, they
are in poirelhon of the trade of his whole dominions ; and
all his fnbje£l-s are employed in working to fupply the
luxury of the emperor's court, and tlie Dutch magazines
with a variety of valuable commodities and manufa61:ures,
which they in part confume, and partly export into other
countries. Thus the firfl: part of their grand fcheme was
completely executed^ (A).
It
31
n Hiftoire de I'Expedition de trci? VaifTranx, vol, ii. p. 192, 193.
Mtmoires de Dr. Gaicin. ** Voyages de Nicholas Graaf, aux
Indcs Orientales, p. Z17,
(A) This is one of thof©
great events, the real import-
ance of which is not to be ap-
prehended by a bare perufal,
but requires to be long and at-
tentively conlidered. The em-
peror, or, as he is called in the
langunge of the country, fun-
fuonan of Java, is an hereditary
monarch, whofe dominions are
very extenfive," and who exer-
cifes a defpotic power through
their whole extent. The ge-
neral and the council of the In-
dies were but reprefenrative^; of
the Dutch Eafl India company,
adminiilering their affairs in
fubordination to the directors,
and all fubjetts of the States
General of the United Pro-
vinces. They were flrangers,
occupyrng but a fmall part of
one of the grcatell iflands in
the world, charged with a
multitudeof other affairs, and
under a neceflity of attending
to them, as well as to the war
in Java : he was at home, had
thoufands, and even fome hun-
dreds of thoufands at his devo-
tion, without any other point
of view than that of maintain-
ing his authority. The defign
of the general and council was
rendered extremely difficult by
its being of a complicated na-
ture, requiring an equal degree
of art and of force to maintaia
as well as to execute it. His,
on the crher hand, was as lim-
pleandplainasa thingcouldbe,
to fupport his own interell and
authority, and to prevent laws
being given by thofe who were
the fervaiiisoffervants, fubje^t
to a republic that had not the
tenth
22 Conquers J Settlements^ and Difcoverles of
State of ^^ ^^^ "°^ ^°^S before an opportunity offered for carry-
the king of ing the other part of cheir plan into execution Hkewife, by
Bantatns bringing the king of Bantam as much under their power
dominions^ ^g ^^ emperor of Java. The city of Bantam was a place
tount"oft/ie ^^ ^^^y great confequence before the Europeans found a
nations paffage into the Indies \ for the Arabs, the Turks, the
trading Moors, the Chinefe, and almoft all the nations in the
thither, £^11, reforted to that port ; and even after the Portguefe
became very powerful, they were contented to trade there
without making any fettlement. The Engli{h were the
firft who had any faftory there, after them the Dutch and
the Danes carried on a great trade. The king of Bantam's
territories were not very large \ but their happy fituation
jnade them very confidcrable, as the capital is feated up-
on and commands the flreights of Sunda, the oppofite
coafts of the ifland of Sumatra being fubjedl to the king of
Bantam ; this fituation, and its nearnefs to Batavia, from
which it is not diftant full fixty miles, will eafily convey
to the reader's apprehenfion a true notion of the importance
of this place to the Dutch, w^ho were not more jealous of
the natural power of that king, if he had known how to
manage it, than they were uneafy at the fjght of veffels of
all countries trafficking, in his port p. It was no wonder,
therefore, that they were extremely attentive to every
thing that paffed in his country, or eagerly defirous of in-
terpofmg upon any occafion that promifed an alteration in
their favour, or could lead to fuch a change of atFairs as
might correfpond with their interelts, and put him as much
in their power as they could wifli ; more efpecially after
fome checks they had received from the reigning king of
Bantam., ^A^ho was much in the interefl of the Englifli,
and had aftually fent a folemn embafly to the court of
king Charles II. which was confidered as one great reafon
why they looked upon him as a prince by no means fit for
their purpofe, and to the perplexing of whofe affairs they
were ready to contribute by countenancing thofe intrigues,
to which thefe eaftern courts, wild and barbarous as they
P Nieuhoff, Tavernier, Frier, Abbe Choify-
tenth part of his people : yet thing in ancient hiftory that can
the general and council at Ba« with any ftiadcw of reafon be
tHvia carried their point ; and called a parallel to this tranf-
which is ilill more extraordi- adion, coulidered in its full ex-
nary, have maintained it from tent, and all its circumftances
that time to this. There is no- duly examined.
appear.
the Dutch in the Eqjl Indies. 33
appear, are to the full as much expofed as thofe of the po-
liteft nations ''.
The old king of Bantam, whom fome Dutch writers The quar*
call Soltan Agan, and others Soltan Nanghi, worn out rel he-
with age and infirmities, and being willing to fee his fa- tiveenthe
Tourite fon placed upon the throne in his life-time, refign- ^'^!'%JlfJ*H
11 o 1 -^ A • 1 ii 1 1 • oj Bantam*
ed the government to ooltan Agni, or, as others ityle him,
Soltan Haafi, who had not held it long before he rendered
himfelf univerfally odious, fo that the old king his father,
in pity to his people, as well as for the prefervation of
himfelf and two fons^ the Pangeraiigs Parbaya and Sakhi,
took up arms, and, with a body of thirty thoufand menj
befieged Soltan Haafi in the fortrefs of Bantam "■. The
young king, deferted and abandoned by every body ex-
cept the inftruments of his cruelty, and the companions
of his debauches, immediately difpatched fome of his fa-
vourites to Batavia, to defire the interpofition of the Dutch
in his favour. This application was precifely what they
wanted anddefired, and therefore, without any fcrupulous
enquiries into the m.erits of the caufe, they fent an army
of three thoufand regular troops, under the command e£
the Sieur Martin, to his relief ^ This oflicer made a de-
fcent upon the coalt of Bantam with his forces, and, in a
general engagement, defeated the old king's army, after
a long and obflinate difpute. The lofs of the battle was
not the greateft misfortune which he fuflered, for, foon
after, he was taken prifoner, kept under a ftri£i: guard,
and very indifferently treated by his fon. The two young
princes having made their efcape from the field of battle,
and retired with their wives and children into the moun-
tains in the fouth-eaft part of the ill and, the Dutch fent
detachments in purfuit of them, who followed them fo
clofe, that the eldeft of them, Parbaya, came and fur--
rendered himfelf to the company, who affigned him a
penfion, and a place to live in near Batavia. And thus
the war ended, in the eltablifhment of the young king
upon the throne K
He had not, however, all things confidered, any great Hew th
reafon to rejoice in this victory ; for the Dutch, in con- young king
fequence of it, made themfelves maftcrs of the fortrefs of ^^^f «^|? «'-'
^ ' tacfiea to
q Captain Hamilton's Account of the Eaft Indies, vol. ii. p. 127. pany»
r Voyages de Nicolas Graaf aux Indes Orientaies, p. 214. Voyages '^
de Siam des Peres Jefiiits p- 123. ^ Journal dii Voyage de ^
Siam, par I'Abbe de Choify, p. 161, 162. t Voyages de Ni-
colas Graaf aux Indes Orientaies, p. 215, a 16.
Mod. Vol. IX, D fcantatu.
3^ Conquejls, Settlements, and Difcoveries of
Bantam, and of his perfon ; the European faftories were
plundered, particularly that of the Englifh, in which they
found gold, jewels, and rich merchandize, to an immenfe
value ; and every thing was difpofed of in fuch a manner
as fuited beft with the views of the king's good allies, who
had fixed him upon the throne. In order to manage Sol-
ton Haafi the better, he was provided with a Dutch fa-
vourite, one Henry van Steenwyk, who, after he was
|)romoted to the dignity of a prince, aiTumed the title of
the Pangerang Wieragouna, and -made it his bufmefs to
keep his mafler fleady-to the interefts of his countrymen ;
io that, though every thing was tranfa6led in the king's
name, yet nothing was done but by the advice of the
Dutch favourite. Thefe troubles began about the year
1680, and the Englifh and Danes were conftrained to quit
Bantam in 1683 ; a circumftance which produced loud
complaints in Europe, a warm paper war between the
Englifh and Dutch Eafl India companies"; and, in (hort,
every thing except the reflitution of the Englilh to their
fa61:ory, and the right of trading in the capital and do-
minions of the king of Bantam, from which, with all
other European nations, they have been precluded ever
fmce ; fo that the whole produce of this country in pep-
per, which amounts to about ten thoufand tons a year, is
entirely in the hands of the king's allies, who purchafe it
at their own price '^.
The people ^"^ ^^ mufl not fuppofe that the people imitated the
continue to prince in the tamenefs of his fubmiition. They fludied
difi'ke the continually, and, nocvt'Ithflandlng many difappointments,
Dutch made repeated efforts to reftore the old king, and to drive
out the Dutch ; attempts which, inflead of contributing
to fliake off the yoke, made the weight of it the more
uneafy. The Pangerang Wieragounda pcrfuaded the
king, that the fufety of his perfon depended entirely upon
the having a confiderable body of Dutch troops at Ban-
tam ; and as he could not but be fenfible of the rifk they
r^n in remaining there without fome place of ftrength for
their retreat, a refidence was affigned them within a piftol-
ihot of the fortrefs ; which was at firfl compofed of canes,
in the form of a lozenge, furrounded by a flrong palifadoe,
which continued till the year 1686. About that time a
great infurreftion happened at Bantam, in which the peo-
w Impartial Vindication of the Enjrlifh Eaft India Company,
16S8, 8vo. Jufljfication of the EhiTch Eart India Company, printed
at the end of it. * Hamilton** Account of the Ealt Indies,
yol. ii. p. 1Z7.
the Dutch In the Eajl Indies. 35
j[)le endeavoured to make themfelves mafters of the Dutcn
pofts ; but Soltan Haafi had early intelligence of their de-
iign, fallied out with his guards, and provided for the
fafety of his allies at the expence of his fubje£ls. This
attempt, though it mifcarried, made fuch an impreflion
upon the king's mind, that he ferit his father, and one of
the oldeft and moft confiderable of their nobility, to Ba-
tavia '^, that they might be the more fafely kept •, and ef-
prefled his defire that the Dutch would provide better fof
their own fafety; and they, without many intreaties, ere£ted
a fquare flone fort, called Steelwyk, within piftol-fliot
of the fortrefs of Bantam , which, having always a ftrong
garrifon, and being well fupplied with cannon, coilmiands
at once both the port and the town, keeps ftrangers out
of the former, and prevents arty infurre£tion in the latter ;
to the mutual fatisfaftion of the luxurious infatuated mo-
narch, and the Dutch company y.
By thefe fteps, this other great power in the iHand of This tnO'
Java was brought into their tutelage, though not under »arcliy is
their fubje£):ion ; for they abridged the king in none of ^'^t^l, j.^
his prerogatives, and left him in the fall pofleffion of his "^g^^gnt on
revenues. They carelled him continually with embaflies, th admi-
loading him with prefents •, giving him, according to the niflration
cuftom of the Eaft, the moll lofty titles ; and profefling, ^^. ^'^•^"
upon all occafions, their inviolable friendfliip, and pro- '^^^*
found refpe(fl:, for his majefty •, to prevent his ever fuf-
pe<£ling that he was, at the bottom, no better than their
vaflal^ In this ftatc of feeming authority, and real depen-
dence, but in the full pofleffion of a numerous feraglio ;
a treafury full of precious ftones, which he much ad-
mired j diverted with coftly fpe£lacles, and furrounded
with clouds of rich perfume ; he wafted his days to an
extreme old age, and then died, little confidered by hii
alHes, and lefs by his fubje£ts, who hated him for de-
priving them of their commerce, though they were never
any great gainers by it ; but they were better pleafed to
have variety of purchafers for their pepper, than a fmgle
nation, whom, of all others, th^y leaft affe£ted. It does
not, however, appeat, that he ever difliked that change
which had been introduced in his reign, but on the con-
trary perfifted in the firm perfuafion, that he owe4 the
pofleffion of his dominions, and the tranquihty of his go-*
X Voyages de^ficolas Graaf, p. ^^<), y Journal du Voyage
de Siam, par I' Abbe de Choify, p. i6o, i6i. « Impartial Julti«
fication of the Englifti Eaft India Company.
D z vernment.
36
Some cir-
cumjiances
relating to
the fon
and fuc-
cejjo- of
ihn Ban-
tam efe
monarch.
The Du'ch
prrjeSl the
driving the
French en
tirely out
oj the Indies
J9r ever.
Conquejls, Settlements^ and Dlfecroerles of
vernment, to the fuccours furnifhed him from Batavia ; and
therefore recommeiided to his fon and fuccelTor, the main-
taining a clofe correfpondence with the company, as a great
fecret of (late, and the mofl effe6tual means of preferving;
his abfolute authority ^
This fon of his was alive in J 722, and feems to have
inherited his father's qualities, as well as his dominions.
Before his accefiion to the throne he had diverted himfelf
by committing a61:s of piracy at fea, and lived afterwards
in a manner not only unworthy of his rank, but fcan-
nalous to him as a rational creature. He had in his fe-
raglio five hundred wives and concubines, and yet was
guilty of the blacked incefl. Thofe who were then in-
trufted with the adminiftration of affairs for the Dutch
£aft India company, took the liberty of dire£ling their
ambaffadors to admonifh him gently as to his courfe o£
life, from the great odium it raifed. He defended him-
felf by a kind of plaufible fophiftry, v/ith which vicious
men delude themfeives, and then hope to delude others;
but, in tl;e tn^i, told them plainly, that he was born to
give, and not to receive laws; that he lived in fuch a
manner as he liked beft ; and that if his friends had any
objeclions to the women about him, they fliould fend
him fome from their own country ^* The author, upon
U'hofe credit vj^q. take this, was an eye-wituefs of what he
Wrote, and had feveral converfations with his majelly of
Bantam, whom he reprefents as agreeable in his perfon,
affable in his behaviour, pleafant in his difcourfe, but
withal .very artful, and execrably wicked. In his father*s
time the Dutch durft not ftir fingly without their fortifi-
nations; but in his reign fmall detachments were not fe-
Gurci To that,' upon the cuttii7g off a licutenan,t with
twenty men, the rqgency at Batavia were obliged to rein-
force their garrifon confiderabiy ^. This monarch died as
he lived, fuddenly, and without fliewing the lead remorfe
for the many abominable actions of which he had been
guilty.
Upon the breaking out of the next general war in Eu-
rope, the Dutch found their affairs In the Indies in fo prof-
perous a condition, and wer,e fo well apprifed of the em-
ployment given to the Frencli fleet, that they were under
no apprehJenfions of meeting with any other diilurbance
■ L* Expedition de trois Vaiffeaux^ torn. ii. p. 195. ^ b Voy-
ages de Nicolas de Graaf, p. 209. L'Expedition de trois Vaifleaux,
torn. ii. p. 196, 197. « Hamiitorfs Account of the Eaft Indies,
vol.ii. p. 1*7.
than
' the Dutch in the Eaft Indies. 37
tlian that of cruifing for their outward and homeward'
bound fhips, againft which they knew the States General
would make the beft provifion in their power ; and there-
fore, the general and council at Batavia applied their
thoughts entirely to the making uf^ of fo favourable an op-
portunity, for abfolutely expelling the French out of the
Indies ''. This defi^^n could not proceed from any great
detriment they received from their commerce, which was
fo inconfiderable, that it neither brought them much pro-
lit, nor could raife any -degree of envy in the nations al-
ready eftablilhed in the Indies. But the fwelling title of
the royal Eaft India company of France, the dexterity with
•which Mr. Francis Martin had eftabliihed himfelf-at Pon-
dicherry, where he had raifed a tolerable fortrcfs, and a
fmall town under its proteftion ; his infinuating manner of
treating with the Indian princes, whofe countenance and
favour he had obtained, in a high degree ; and the con-
venient fituation of the place, which, except the Englifh
fettlement at Madrafs, was preferable to any upon the coaft
of Coromandel, were the circumftances that made them
uneafy ^ They forefaw, that, fome time or other, this
would turn to account, and that the French would be con-
vinced, that a trade to the Indies was practicable, fr m
feeing this fettlement fubfift and improve, with very little
encouragement, and fcarce any fupplies from Europe.
They determined therefore to nip it in the bud, and to
lid themfelves of all their fears, by difpofTefliiig their
enemies, while in fo weak a condition as not to be able to
make any great refiftance. Their firft project of exciting
an Indian war, and making others aft as the initruments
of their refentment, did not take ^^^Qi^ by which much
time, and perhaps fome money vv-as loft ; fo that at length
they determined to do their bufinefs themfelves, and to do
it effcftually,
Mr. Laurence Pitt was at that time their director on the T^/j? tm-
coaft of Coromandel, to whom the management of this ployed a
expedition was committed ; and accordingly he appeared '^^'"^ f ^^'
before the place in the latter end of Auguft, 1693, with a ^ucmp the
force fufficient to have reduced any fortrefs in the Indies, fortrefs of
His fquadron conn {led of nineteen fail, exclufive of tranf- ForcH-
ports and fmall vellels, from which he landed fifteen hun- "^^^^J*
-tired men, all regular troops, commanded by experienced
olFicers, and two thoufand more, compofed of feameii
d I-Hrioire des lades Orientale.s, tom.iii. p. 731. e Capt.
Hamilton's Account of the Ea<> Indies, vol. i. p. 356.
D 3 fprmc4
38
ConqueftSy Settlements, and Dlfcov cries of
formed into companies, snd Indian troops in Dutch pay,
fuch as. Bougies, Macaffars, and Chingueleys, fifteen or
fixteen brafs cannon for battery, fix mortars, and a train
of twenty-four field-pieces; befides, they had alfo one of
the princes of the country, with his troops, in their pay,
from whom they purchafed a right to the place for fifty
thoufand pagodas ^ When the forces were once landed,
they loft no time, but pufhed the fiege with fuch vigour,
that, on the 6th of September, the French governor was
obliged to beat the chamade, and on the 8 th the capitula-
tion was figned, confifting of thirteen articles ; by which
it was ftipulated, that the place fhould be given up to the
Dutch Eaft India company ; the garrifon to march out,
with all marks of honour ; the Indian foldiers allowed to
retire where they pleafe ; and the French to be fent home,
either at the clofe of that year, or the beginning of the
next.
The Dutch being thus become mafters of Pondicherry,
not only repaired and fortified this fettlement, but in the
fpace of fix years that it remained in their hands, augment-
ed the fortifications very confiderably, and made it one of
the faireft and ftrongeft places upon the coaft •, fuppofing
that they ihould have had the fame good fortune with re-
fpe61: to that, as had attended the like condu£l: in regard
to their conquefts from the Portuguefe •, but in this hope
they were much miftaken. When the peace of Ryfwick
v^as figned, September 2ctli, 1^97, there was a gener^
claufe for the reftitution of all places taken ori both fides,
from the beginning of the war, either in or out of Europe ;
and, at the clofe of that general claufe, the fortrefs of
Pondicherry was particularly mentioned ; with a provifion,
that it fliould not be demolifl^ied, but he delivered up in
its prefent condition*, and Mr. Martin, who was again
made governor, by a particular treaty with the Dutch di-
reftor, confented to pay fixteen thoufand pagodas, in con-
fideration of what had been expended ; fo that the French
were really gre^^t gainers by this iliort interruption of their
pofieffion s.
While this war continued, the company thought fit to
treat with the States General for a new term, as that of
which they were pofiefied was to determine on the laft day
of the year 1 700 5 and it is faid, that this renewal of their
entering c» charter, which was completed on the nth of Auguft,
fuy» ^ Hiftoire de la Compagnie des Indes, p. 75. Hiftoiredes In-
^' des, torn. iii. p. 234. ^ Corps Univerfelle Diplomatique,
tons. vii. part. ii. p. 33.
1698,
Become
inafiers of
the place \
fortify if,
at a vaji
expence 5
and are
obliged to
gi'veit up
at the
^ euriGus
Jfculc^r me
' ^aljiiuck,
upon the
(cmpany*s
tie Dutch In tie Eaji Jnitef, 3 j
i6q8, and by which all their rights and privileges were ex-
tended to the clofe of the year 1 740, coll them feveral mil-
lions ; which, however, were very well bellowed, conli-
dering the great length of time which they obtained, and
that, in the fpace of thirty years before, they had divided
to their proprietors upwards of fix hundred and forty per
cent, on their original capital. This confideration gave .
the government in Holland jufl reafon to expe(fb, that the
llate ihould receive a large fine, upon renewing fo benefi-
cial a grant ; and the rather, becaufe their finances were
pretty much exhauiled, by a long, expenfive, and not over
profperous war ; during which, the company had made
^reat profits ; and it was very remarkable, that, notwith-
ftanding fo large a difburfement in ready money, they were
able the very next year to make two confiderable dividends
to their proprietors ^
SECT. XIII.
Ihe Caufes and Confequences of the Companfs long War
in Java, The grand Confpiracy of the Natives, for
the Extirpation of the Dutch. 'The Manner in which
it was dif covered, prevented, and puniJJoed.
A FTER all the precautions that could be taken, a new The caufa
"^ war broke out in Java, in the year 1 704, occafioned ofthelaft
by the death of the emperor, and the difputes which arofe ^^f^^fj^^
about the fucceflion *, an affair of too great confequence to j
the c'^ompany for her to remain unconcerned. The part fhe
took was that of the deceafed emperor's brother ; whereas
the Javanefe, or at leaft a great party amongft them, ef^
poufed that of the late emperor's fon. This war was more
obftinate, and of longer continuance, than could have been
expecled ; a circumftance occafioned by the young empe-
ror's taking into his fervice many of the Indian foldiers,
that, in a time of full peace, had been difbanded by the
Dutch, and who, being acquainted with the Europeaij dif-
cipline, proved very formidable enemies ; for, in the courfe
of the w^ar, it clearly appeared, that, in point of fagacity
and ftratagem, they were hot at all inferior to the beft of-
b Jani9on Etat prefent de la Republiqne des Provinces-unies,
torn. i. p. 316, 317, X)iilionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 1091.
D 4 fipers
lAfartn
^o Conquejls, Settlements^ and Difcoveries of
ficers in the Dutch army, and, from their great a£livity
in marching, and their perfect knowlege of the country,
they gained frequent advantages ^ But the company, by
' the help of fortrefles and magazines, being able to keep
their armies longer in the field, and being alfo able to tranf-
port on board their fleets their troops, when and wherever
it v/as necefiary, the Javanefe, in their turn, found them-
felves grievouily diftrefled j fo that at length both fides be-
ing equally tired of what produced nothing but mifchief
and bloodihed to either, things were at lad compofed ^.
But in the midfl of thefe troubles, the governor-general
John Van Hoorn had the courage to undertake the rebuild-
ing of the town-houfe, in 1706. It had been built about
fiftyrfour yearsj and, being compofed of brick and wood,
began to decay ; but inight have been eafily, and at a fmall
expence repaired, if that had not been confidered as un^
worthy the magnificence of Batavia. The new ftadthoufe
fhews to what a degree this notion was carried, fince it is
reputed the mofl fuperb ftrudure that has been ere6led by
the Europeans fince they penetrated to the Indies. In
this noble pile of building the council or college of juf-
tlce afiemblcs ; in it are alfo apartments for many infe-
rior courts, fo that all^ the public bufinefs of the colony
as tranfatfled there, and this too with all imaginable con-
i« Java.
Hotu this It is reported, that, from the confequences of this war,
^ar con- xh.Q adminiftratiou in Batavia were convinced that the na-
l)"t^A \l^ t ^^^^^ ^^^ fome fecret refources, which, with all their in*
that iLre (luftry, they have never yet been able to difcover ; for in
are gold places which had been deftroyed and plundered more than
mines of once in the war, and where the inhabitants were reduced
confidera- ^^ ^^ utmoft mifcry, they were in a fliort time in as good
a condition as ever, and had all their bracelets, and other
little ornaments of gold, about them as before '". It is in-
deed certain, that not in Java only, but through all the
Inciies, the natives are wonderfully fufpicious of the Eu-
ropeans, and conceal with the utmofi: care the places, and
the means of procuring either gold-dull or precious (tones.
This caution may be reafonably fuppofed to arife from the
fear of being reduced to the molt abje6t flavery, and'
forced to work in the mines, which, in thofe warm coun-»
* Hamilton's Account of theEaft Ind. vol.ii. p. 133, k L'Exr
pedition de trois VaifTeaux, vul. ii. p. 97. l Jani^on Etat
prefent de la RepiiHIique des Provinccs-unies, torn. i. p. 333.
i» Memoir.es de Pr. Garcin«
tries.
the Dutch in the Eajl Indies, 4 1
tries, Txiay be wdl accounted the moft dreadful of all pu-
nifhments ".
It may not be amifs to obferve here, that about the year The intro-
l^ji^ they began to cultivate coffee in Java, not as a cuno- du£i'ton ani
fity, but as a commodity ; and it is worth our notice, how P^^S^^P^t
many years paffed before this improvement came to be i^^^J^^g.
thought pradiicable. A notion a long time prevailed, that ment made
the Arabs were as jealous and circumlpeft in regard to this by planting
plant as the Indians about their goid-dufl ; and that, to ^'^f.^^,*"
prevent its being cultivated in other countries, they never y «««•
fuffered fo much as a bean to pafs out of their hands, till
fo long dried in the oven as to deprive it of the power of
vegetation ; but in all probability this was no better than a
fable ; for about the year 1690, fome coffee flirubs in pots
were tranfported to Batavia, and being there tranfplanted,
grew very well. In '697, from the peftilential fumes that
fucceeded a great earthquake, moft of the gardens belong-
ing to that colony fuffered feverely, and moft of their cu-
rious plants were killed ; a few coffee-fhrubs, however, ef-
capedj and, in 1706, they began to plant them again in
many places, and particularly in the garden of the gover-
nor-general, where in a few years they came to great per-
fe61:ion ''. At length, therefore, it was refolved to try
whether the coffee they produced might not be roalled and
drank. Since that time coffee is become a great commo-
dity in Java, as alfo in the illand of Ceylon, with the foil
of which it is pretended the plant agrees better than with
that of Arabia ; for whereas about Mocha the coffee-
buflies feldom rife higher than fix, or at moft ttn or twelve
feet, in Java and Ceylon they grow commonly to twenty
or thirty, and rife even to forty feet high. For this rea*
fon they have much greater quantities than in Arabia,
where one tree with another feldom yields above five pounds
of berries in a year p. But in thefe new plantations, fif-
teen or twenty pounds are not thought very extraordinary.
The doubt is, whether the flavour of the Java and Ceylon
coffee comes up to that of Arabia, which at firft it was
univerfally acknowleged it did not; but in procefs of time
the former grew more into efteem, and the Dutch now
perfuade themfelves that it is little, if at all, inferior to ^^^^"Jf'
fv ^ r T\/r 1, . 'va breaks
that of Mocha. ,^^ ^f,,jj, .
The war in Java broke out afrelh in 1716, and continued and,'thougk
between four and five years, by which the company were ^' length
n Voyage de G:7Utier Schontenaux indes Orientales, p. 395. P''°'^^^ j. ^
# Memoiies de Dr, Gaiciii. p Origine 5t afage du Caffe, p. 9. ^j^^„terous
put intrigue.
42 Conque/lsy Settlements, and Bifcaveries of
put to a great deal of trouble ; and were taught, by expe-
rience, a maxim long ago laid down by great mailers in the
art of war, that it is by no means prudent to employ regular
troops for many years together againft a barbarous nation,
becaufe, however, the enemy maybe worfted, they are at
Jaft beat both into courage and difcipline. The Dutch were
thoroughly fenfible that the war was againft their intereft ;
but they were unwilling to facrifice the advantages they
had fo long enjoyed, or to end the war upon worfe
terms than they might have had at the beginning 'J. At
length, however, things were adjufted, and the peace
of the illand was reftored. But this had nut been long
enjoyed when a difcovery was made of a very deep and
dangisrous defign, the aim of which was no lefs than the
entire fubverfion of the government at Batavia, by the de-
ftrudion of all the Dutch inhabitants, and of the Chrif-
tians of every denomination that lived under their protec-
tion. This difcovery was made on the laft day of the year
1721, but how, or by whom, is a fecret with which the
world is not yet acquainted, at Icaft with any degree of
certainty. Some have afcribed it to the fagacity of the
council of the Indies ; others are of opinion that fome of
the accomplices, being diffident of the event, fecured
themfelves by betraying their confederates. Mr. Van
Bofch, the Dutch minifter at Macaflar, intimated that the
company ftood indebted for her fafety to the friendfliip of
a great monarch ; which is a point that fhall be explained
hereafter ^
M fiiutnS. But however the difcovery was made, the principal con-
tfieiAjofthe fpirators were arrefted without noife, and their whole de-
€»njptracy» fjgj^ ^^gg (defeated ; in three months they were brought to
their trials, and convi6led ; from the record of which con-
vi£lion we fhall give a fuccin61: account of this undertak-
ing, little inferior, either in its nature, or management,
to Cataline's plot for overturning the Roman republic. The
original author of this dark defijjn was a Javanefe, whofc
name was Catadia, a native of the royal city of Kattafura,
who had fpent four years in eflablifhing fecret correfpon-
dences over a great part of the illand, before he difclofed
it to the perfon that he afterwards put at the head of the
defign, and who had been embarked in it about two yeari.
This chief was one Peter Erberfeldt, burgefs of Batavia,
whofe father had been a member of the provincial college,
q Memoires (^e Dr. Garcin.- >" Haniilton'$ Account of the
JEaft Indies, vol- ii. p. i33» i34»
the Butch in the Eaft Indies, 4j,
and a captain of horfe, but his mother a Moor. He was
near fixty years of age; and there appears no other motive
for his entering into this cabal, than the ambition of mak-
ing himfelf fovereign of Batavia. Maja Praja, ferjeant of
a Javanefe company in the Dutch fervice, and who had
formerly lived wiih the major of Batavia, was another con-
fpirator, who, from the knowlege of the ftrength and dif-
pofition of the company's forces, gave them fuch lights as
they could not otherwise have procured. There were, be- ^
fides thefe, eight or ten more of different ranks and na-
tions, yet all of them but mean people, embarked in this
defign, and for many months together employed in taking
meafures for carrying it into execution '.
It is very llrange that in all this time, and where fo iToiv this
many were intrufled, nothing fhould be divulged ; and it ^^Mn fame
would appear more llrange, that, when the confpirators *° ^^cue
knew their own force, they were fo dilatory ; if it had not /^^ ^^ ^j^^
been difcovered, from their own confeffions, that they king of
waited to fee what turn the war of Java would take, in Bantam,
which there is reafon to fufpe£t that Peter Erberfeldt ^? '^^'°^
It nvas
thought the emperor wanting in fomewhat that they ex- communi'
pe£led from him ; for, applying himfelf afterwards to cated^
the king of Bantam, with whofe charafter the reader is
already acquainted, and giving him an exacl account of
the pofture that things were in a little before the time
fixed for the infurre^tion, he intimated, that, as foon
as he was thoroughly fettled in his new monarchy, he
intended to attack the emperor, not doubting but he
fliould be able to make a great party amongft his fubjedls.
It was this laft piece of intelHgence that alarmed the king
of Bantam, who, confidering the daring fpirit of the man,
and the amazing fecrefy with which he had managed for
fo long a time fo dangerous an undertaking, began to ap-
prehend that he might have a worfe neighbour of him than
of the company. Being at that time upon fo bad terms
with his own fubje6ls, as not to dare to ftir out of his
fortrefs but with Dutch guards, he judged it moft for his
interefl to make his court to the general and council at
Batavia, by imparting to them what he knew of the con-
fpiracy. By this intimation they<jvere enabled, without
making any ftir, to feize thofe who had been moft adlive
in this bufinefs, and to take the necelTary precautions, in
cafe of a commotion, to render it abortive ; for there v/as
« Sentence centre PiCrre Eibeife!d & fes complices, prononcee
a Batavia en ^1^^»
jf^ Conquefts^ Settlements^ and Bifcoveyies of
jufl reafon to fear, that thofe who had engaged to affifl
Erberfeldt and his confederates, might have either taken
arms to refcue them, or to protect -themfehes ; but they
•were fo much furprifed at feeing the plot difcovered, that
tither they were afraid to liir, or thought that by remain-
ing quiet, the regency at Batavia might confult the tran-
quility of the colony, and diflemble the informations
they had received. If they a6led upon this motive, they
were certainly right, for the general and council, notwith-
ilanding the feverity with which they proceeded againft
the traitors in their hands, very prudently declined any
, ithing that might render thefe people defperate, and produce
a rebellion, the confequences of which might have been
very dangerous ^
Method The plan of the confpirators was, to furprife the city,
•which tvas and to put all who were not of their party to death ; after
to jj pur- -y^rhich flep, they took it for granted that the mixed multi-
carry^np ^"^'^ ^^ different nations inhabiting the low countries
ihisjcheme would either willingly join them, or have fubmitted
into execu- through fear. The great objecl of their councils, there-
''^^* fore, was, to bring this point of the furprize to bear. This
' whole tranfaflion was concerted in the houfe of Erberfeldt,
fituated without the city, at that corner of the road to
Jacatra which turns off to the Portuguefe church. The
confpirators likewife met often at a country houfe of
his fituated on the Sunder, from whence they carried on
a correfpcndence with feveral iMohammedan princes, and
chiefs of the Indian nations, whom they had found means
to draw ever to their party. The letters upon this fubje6fc
were written by Catadia, MajaPraja, de Chias, &c. who
alfo read thcfe they received in anfwer, becaufe Peter
Erberfeldt was not able to write or read the languages of
which they made ufe ; and it was the fame perfons who
were charged with delivering thofe letters, or caufing
them to be delivered, to thofe to whom they were ad-
drefled, and receiving their anfwers. The better to pro-
mote their purpofe, fome of them difperfed themfelves
through different quarters of the flat country, in order to
fell amongll: the inhabitants a kind of diemats, or little
ftamps, marked with^certain characters, which were to
fecure thofe who carried them about them from muiket-
ffiots, wounds from guns, fwords, or other weapons.
The confpirators had agreed that the firft attack fhould be
niade on the houfes of the governor-general, the council,
t L'Expeditioa de trois VaifTeaux, torn, ii, p. 104, \0S'
and
the Butch in the Eqfl Indies. 4^
and other maglftrates in the citadel and in the city, fo as
to mailacre all the principal perfons of the government.
Peter Erberfekit, Catadia, otherwife called Rading, What poftt
Javan de Cartafaura, and Maja Praja, were to have had y^^^-^f-
the command in the attack of the citadel ; Sana Suta, lY/fg^gral
Anga Tfitra, de Bagall, and Layech dc Sumbowen, that chiej aSlors
of the town. The attack was to be made on New-yearV in this
day, as foon as ever the gates were open. The laft <:<3"fpiracy^
rendezvous of the confpirators was fixed for the evening
that fhould have preceded the attack, at a houfe of the
principal confpirator Erberfeldt, to confer together, and
to Hide away from thence, feme into the citadel, and
fome into the town. To prevent all mifanderftanding
among themfelves, they agreed beforehand on this regula-
tion ; that Peter Erberfeldt, as foon as the maflac.re was
over, fhould afTume the title of gufti, or kingy as well in
the city as in the citadel ; and that Catadia Ihould have
the title of rading, or prince, in the low country, without
the city, quite in the mountains ; as to the reft, they were
to have the title of pangerangs, or princcsy and eflabiifii-
ed mantries, or chiefs, and counfellors to the king j they
were alfo to execute, in their feveral diftri£ls, the func-
tion of tummagums, or generals, in conjunction with
Singa Patria, who had been a6luaily eftablifhed, by the
company's authority, chief of Sikias.
The confpirators had farther agreed, that, after the Means con"
execution of their defign, Peter Erberfeldt was to confti- certedfor
tute a college or beard of twelve young men, each of the A/'/'or/z»^
age of twenty, or thereabouts, to be cho fen from the fa- ^erT^ent"
milies of the principal confpirators, which twelve perfons nvh^n the
were to have been fcnt to the princes and chiefs of the revolution
Mohammedans, in order to fettle the duties and cuftoms ^^(^J ^^^^
they were for the future to pay at Batavia, and afterwards ^^^ '
to a6l as minifters. Conformable to this plan the con-
fpirators had taken fufficient precaution for fecuring means
neceftary to aflift and fupport them, after the maflacre was
begun, by a body offeventeen thoufand men, drawn from,
feveral places in the neighbourhood of Batavia. Accord-
ing to their fcheme, this body was to have been divided
into feveral detachments, all of which were to have been
ready to march at a time appointed. The fignal being
given, each of thefe detachments was to have put itfelf in
motion ; and by the high roads, as well as by private 'vays,
to have advanced and taken pofleffion of all the gates, to
hinder fo much as a fmgle perfon's efcaping. With this
view, and for the better execution of their project, the
confpirators
^g Conquejls^ Settlements^ and DlfcoveHes of
confpirators had already fecured, by the diflribution of the
diemats before mentioned, one thoufand men. Maja
Praja had undertaken to fend as many j and two thoufand
had orders to defcend from the mountains of the fouth,
and to join thofe who were concealed in the neighbour-
hood, in order to the perpetration of this horrible defign.
Ultimate Three days before the intended maflacre, the whole
rejolutions, fcheme was entirely fettled ; and Peter Erberfeldt had dif-
pofed all things, and given his orders for its execution.
In cafe they had fucceeded in their defign, they were to
have been fupported and fuftained by another body of up-
wards of ten thoufand Baleyans, whom they had engaged
to pafs the mountains on the fide of Cadiri, by Maturin,
on the fouth fide, and by Campongbaru, in order to have
taken poft on the mountain of Geru.
The chief confpirators being brought to trial and con-
victed, were condemned and put to the mod cruel and
jgnominious death. Erberfeldt and Catadia were extend-
ed and bound each of them on a crofs, where their right
hands were cut off, and their arms, legs, and breails,
pinched with red-hot pincers : then their bellies were rip-
ped from bottom to top, and their hearts thrown in their
faces ; after which their heads were cut off, and fixed up-
on a poll ; and their bodies expofcd to the fowls of the air.
Some of them were crucified, and others broke alive upon
the wheel.
That the memory of this fingular tranfaftion might be
preferved, the houfe of the principal criminal, Peter Er-
berfeldt, was demolifhed, and a column of infamy ereCled
upon the fpot, with an infcription in the Dutch, Portu-
guefe, Malayan, Javanefe, and Chinefe languages, to the
following import :
" In this place heretofore flood the houfe of that un-
w^orthy traitor Peter Erberfeldt, on which fpot no
other houfe fhall {land henceforth for evermore.**
As the pillar fronts the road, and moft of the people
who pafs by underltand fome or other of thefe tongues, it
may be prefumed that this anfwers the end of the govern-
ment in the Indies ".
>» L'Expedition de trois VaifTcaux, torn, ii- p. 104,
5ECT.
the Dutch in the Eaji hidlcs. 47
SECT. XIV.
7he InfurreBloUy or Majfacre of the Chlnefe,
'TPHE fituatlon of affairs in Europe, wKich encouraged Reafint
^ feveral nations to turn their attention more to com- "^y^v '^^^ .
merce than in former times, the great efforts made in ^^fi J**^^^'*
France to revive the credit of their company, and other ^^^^ „^^y^
motives of a more private nature, induced the Eaft India fortunate
dire£tors in Holland to labour the renevi^ing their char- as formerly
ter, or obtaining an additional term before the old was ex- f^P^ytin^
pired, which they attempted in ! 7 1 7, but without fuccefs. fg^ate^
The States General, though they did not think fit to charter,
grant them at that jundure this requeft, publilhed, how-
ever, a placard in fupport of their privileges, forbidding
any of their fubje^ls to trade within the bounds affigned to
that company, or to be concerned in any of the new un-
dertakings for carrying on a trade in thofe parts j and
afterwards, in concurrence with France and Great Britain,
engaged in a warm oppofition to the cftablifhment of the
imperial company at Oftend. The difputcs raifed upon
that head, and other political affairs of great importance,
fo occupied their attention, that the company were not
able to gain their great point, even to the very year in
which their charter was to expire : all that they could
procure or purchafe, was a prolongation of their term for
a iingle year, to commence from the firfl of January, 174IJ
which at the time occafioned many fpeculations "'.
While the directors were fufficiently employed in con- Ah account
certing ways and means for overcoming thofe difficulties ofthelafi
that obftru6led their obtaining a frefii term, they received J^^'T/jL
the news of the greateft fhock their affairs had ever met chinefe,
with, from Batavia. We intimated before, that, by the nvhich'was
execution of Peter Erberfeldt and his accomplices, the near re-
growth of the treafon only was flopped, but that the roots ^'^"^S °^'
flill remained, of which eight years afterwards the Dutch *
were made fufficiently fenfible. The Chinefe fettled '
among them had been formerly allowed, in confideration
of a large fum of money, to celebrate, at a certain feafon
of the year, the feaft of their grand idol called the Jooilje
de^ Batavia: but, as they were particularly mifchievous at
this feafon, and prefuming upon the licence they had
bought, this cuftom had been for many years abolilhed j
^ Di6lionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col, 1091.- '
but
48
Othsr c'lr-
cumflances
reported by
Afferent
authors
concerning
this re'volt.
Suhflance
of the rein-
tion of this
e'verdy
ivhkh the
Dutch
thought
proper to
make pub-
lic.
Conquejlsy Settlements, and Bifcoveries of
but the Chinefe, conceiving that money would in this age
effect any thing, petitioned for the revival of this feftival j
and it is faid, by offering a large prefent, obtained itj
after which they were never quiet till they brought upon
themfelves that deflru£lion, which to fucceeding times will
appear incredible ^.
Some again report, that a Chinefe of great quality re-
tiring from his own country, came on board one of their
junks, with a Chinefe fleet, to Batavia ; and, withdraw-
ing from thence into the mountains, fpirited up a rebel-
lion, and at the fame time entered into an intrigue with
the Chinefe captain, or chief, to raife an infurre£l:ion in
the city, and to attack the Dutch within, while he fell
upon them without. On the other hand, thefe wanted
not a third party, who, fufpe6ling the truth of the whole
flory, afcribed all that happened to the avarice of the Dutch
governor, fupported by fuch as were indebted to the Chinefe,
rnd thought that cutting their throats would be the eafiefk
and moil expeditious method of fettling accounts. As there
was no care taken to difcredit thefe rumours, by publifh-
ing a juft and authentic relation of what paffed in the In-
dies, w^e need not wonder that thefe tales, however im-
probable, were not wholly difl)elieved. The cleared and
mofl circumftantial narrative of this difmal fcene, which
appeared after the coming in of the India fleet in the
month of July, 1741, is to the following effe61: y :
'' The number of Chinefe in the city and fuburbs at
the time of this confpiracy, according to a very moderate
computation, amounted to ninety thoufand men ; and the
end they had in view was, to maffacre all the Europeans,
by which they thought to become mailers of whatever the
company poiTeiied in the iiland of Java. Full of thefe
ambitious notions, numbers of them began to retire inta
the mountains, where they pillaged, burnt, and murder-
ed, without mercy, and without pretending to aiTign any
reafon for their behaviour. The country people, fubjefts
to the company, took many of them prifoners, and fent
them to Bntavia, to the number, in the whole, of between
four and five hundred men, of whom one hrJf appearing
to be defperate and beggarly fellows, and unikilled in any
employment by which they might get their bread, were
baniflied to Ceylon ; and the reil, having been admonifli-
ed to behave better for the future, were difmiifed and
X Mercure Iliflorlque et Politique, torn. cxi. p. 116. J' Rela-
tion des Troubles arrivees a Batavia dans le mois d'Odobre, 1740.
permitted
the Dutch In the Eaji Indies, 49
permitted to return to their relations. This lenity, how-
ever, was very far from having a good efFe6t ; on the con-
trary, the rebels in the mountains grfew daily ftronger, and
did more and more mifchief. At length the regency
thought lit to fend the counfellors ImhofF and Van Aer-
dens, with a body of eight hundred men, into the moun-
tains, to reduce thefe people ; who, in the fpace of a few
days came up with, defeated, and difperfed them. In
the mean time five of the Chinefe came of their own ac-
cord to the general and council, difcovered the whole de-
fign in which their nation was embarked, and towards the
execution of which they had already provided cannon
made of feveral forts of hard wood, together with great
quantities of ammunition, which they had privately lodg-
ed in their houfes, as well within the city as without.
They had likewife funk mines in feveral places, which
were a6lually filled with powder. Upon receiving thefe
informations, all imaginable precautions were taken ; the
guards doubled at all the gates of the city •, the forts, and
other ports without, reinforced 5 and all the officers or-
dered to join their refpeclive corps immediately, under the
fevered penalties : yet the regency could not believe that
the danger was fo great, or the defecSlion fo univerfal, aS
it was reprefented to them by the five perfons before men-
tioned ; and therefore, fatisfied with acting on the defen-
five, they began to deliberate on the means of extinguifii-
ing thefe jealoufies, and of reducing the Chinefe to their
fenfes and their duty ; but they were quickly made fen*
fible of their miftake, and that things were gone too far to
admit of any fuch palliative remedies, the Chinefe relying
fo much on their fuperiority of number, that, inftead of
being flruck with thefe difpofitions, and endeavouring to
make their peace, they threw off the mafk, and recurred
to open force.
'' OnSaturdaythe 8thofO£lober the Chinefe attacked one .
of the polls without the town, called Quale, near the ifland
of Onrooft, where they murdered all that they met with,
and fet fire to the houfes. Upon this outrage, the regency
immediately iffued their orders, that no Chinefe fhould ftir
out of his houfe, or have any light within it, upon pain of
death. About feven the fame evening, while the council
was aflembled, the Chinefe fet fire to the fuburb without
the gate of Utrecht, fuppofing that the gates would have
been immediately opened, to aiford people a paflage to af-
fift in extinguifliing the fire, when they intended to have
attacked the town on one fide, while thofe within the city,
Mod. Vol. IX. E laying
ConqueftSy Settlements^ and Difcoverles of
laying hold of this opportunity, might rife and fall upon
the Dutch behind. This fcheme, though well laid, did
not fucceed ; the gates were kept fail fhut, and the guards
doubled. At eight o'clock two counfellors went to each
of the gates, in order to give orders. About nine the Chi-
nefe, who were now increafed to between forty or fifty
thoufand men, advanced with trumpets, drums, and brafs
bafons, with which they made a moft terrible noife, in or-
der to excite their countrymen to exert themfelves within ;
which if they had done, it is not eafy to conceive how -the
Dutch could have defended the place, fmce their whole
force coniifted but of three thoufand men ; but as they
were well armed and difciplined, the Chinefe within were
fo difpirited, that they kept their houfes, and did nothing.
Thofe without carried two advanced polls, and llaughtered
all that were in them ; they likewife attacked a third, with-
out the gate of Utrecht, which was defended by fixty men,
who made a very gallant refiftance ; and the Chinefe, in
attacking, being expofed to the artillery of the town, which
made a continual fire, they were at length obliged to defift.
The Dutch then made a fally with one hundred and lixty
men, to relieve and ftrengthen the advanced pofts ; and
though this was hazarding that handful of people, yet they
durft not employ a greater number, for fear of what might
happen within. Such were the operations of that fatal
night, which the Chinefe had fixed for a general maflacre,
and in which, by the vigilance and valour of the inhabi-
tants, they were difappointed.
*' About day-break the Chinefe abandoned the fuburbs ;
and then, the council aflembling, an order was publifhed
for putting the Chinefe within the city to the fword, women
and children excepted, as the only means left to fecure the
public fafety. Upon this order their houfes were broke
open, the men killed without di(lin£l:ion, and the women
and children conveyed to the Chinefe hofpital. In a fmall
fpace of time the ftreets, the rivers, and canals, were co-
vered with dead bodies, and in feveral places the blood ran
over people's fhoes, affording in all refpe£l:s the moft difmal
and horrible fpedlacle imaginable. It was next found re-
quifite to ere<5: a battery on the other fide the Rocmalake,
to fire upon the Chinefe captain's houfe, in which there
were about eight hundred men. When a fufiicient breach
was made, they attacked, and carried it by affault, when
about thirty women came running out, upon promife of
having their lives fpared ; and, amongft them, the Chi-
nefe captain, being difcovercd in female apparel, was feized,
and
the Dutch in the Eaji Indies. it
&Tld ferit to the citadel. About noon the coun-fellors Tm-
hoff and Aerdens returned into the city with the detach-
ment under their command. The people then began to
breathe a Httle, and to confole themfelves with the hopes
that the danger was now ovei^. But the Chinefe being
now driven to a flate of defpair, barricadoed their houfes,
and then fet fire to them, fo that about two o'clock th^
city was in flames in different places, by which the grcateii
part of it, and more efpecially the Chinefe quarter, whi jh
was the mofl populous, was reduced to allies. Tt is im-
pofTible to exprefs the confternation this occafioned, when
numbers of women were feen running to the citadel for
(belter ; while the men alfo leaped into the ftreets, where
they were fliot or cut to pieces by the foldiers *, and with
this bloody fcene, and the putting to death fix hundred and
thirty-five prifoners that were in the citadel, the horrors
of the day ended. During the whole time it lafted, the
riches of thefe people, which were immenfe, were aban-
doned as a prey to thofe who would take them ; and fome
there were, among the failors, who got nine or ten thou-
fand crowns each, to their fhare. In the courfe of this
difmal tragedy there fell no fewer than twelve thoufand
Chinefe of ail ranks and ages, while the whole lofs of the
Dutch did not exceed one hundred men*
*' The Chinefe themfelves confefTed (at leafl It was fo
given out), that they meant to have made their captain go-
vernor of the town •, and that they intended to have pre-
ferved the Dutch governor and diredlor-general to have
carried umbrellas over their governor's head, when he went
abroad; all the counfeliors of the Indies they meant to im^
pale alive, except Mr. Imhoff and Mr. Tedens, whom
they regarded as their capital enemies, and of thefe they
were to have made minced-meat and eat them. Tlie old
men they would have burnt the next morning, and the old
women in the evening j the young women were to bave
nttended the governefs, and the relt of the Chinefe ladies;
and fuch of the young men as efcaped the maiTacre were
to have been made flaves. Amongfl: the plunder there
were five llandards taken ; on the firfl was written, in
Chinefe characters, ** 06lober the lecond, in honour of
Jooilje ;" on the fecond, ^' For our ancient liberty ;" on
the third, " For the deliverance of the oppreffed j" on the
other two, " God fhall be our aid." As foon as things
were a little fettled in the city (for the Chinefe continued
to wafte with fire and fvvord whatever they met with in
the mouatains), the governor-general fee a price upon the
E 2 heads
52 ConqueftSf Settlements^ and Bifcoveries of
heads of the two chiefs ; but offered a general pardon to
all who fhould fubmit and return before the 2 2d of No-
vember ; upon which, notwithftanding all that had pafled,
multitudes came in, and accepted of the terms offered."
The choice This intelligence was brought to Holland in the month
ofaneix) of July, 1741, and, as maybe reafonably fuppofed, raifed
governor ^ general apprehenfion of the confequences. Towards the
£^^n ^^d ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ y^^^' baron Guftavus William d'ImhofF, who
mojl^effec- ^^^^ been formerly governor of Ceylon, and in that high
iualexpe- employment had acquired great reputation, was by the
dientfor E^ft India company declared governor-general ^ In the
rejiortng ^^ fpj^jj^g of the year 1742, he embarked on board a vefTel
ranqui tj' ^^.^^ ^^ j_^.^ ^^^ dirediion, and proceeded to Batavia, to
which place the former governor was fent back from the
Cape of Good Hope, where he arrived in one of the com-
pany's fhips, that he might abide a trial in the place where
he was accufed of having in many inftances moft fhame-
fully abufed his authority, and where he remained a pri-
foner * to his death. Great expectations were raifed of the
adminiilration of baron ImhofF, from his known chara£ter
for prudence, moderation, and courage ; and, though he
found things (till in great confufion when he arrived, yet,
by his wife and firm management, he quickly brought
them into order, provided for the rebuilding of the city,
the reprefling the mutineers in the mountains, and rellor-
ing the tranquility and commerce of the ifland, where he
adminiilered the fupreme authority, to the time of his de-
mife, November j, 1750, with univerfal applaufe ^
SECT. XV.
Defcrlptlon of the great Government of Batavia^ the
City of which is the Capital of the Dutch Indies,
The Countries adjacent^ together with their Produce,
An Account of the Natives that are Suhje^s to the
Company,
Defcriptwn A S we have now brought down the hiftory of the Dutch
efthecoun- JTx E^ft India company to the prefent times, it is next in-
toffeffion of curnbent upon us to defcribe the dominions of v/hich fhe
or in afet' is in pofleffion, tO" fhe w the manner in which they are go-
^t^fr^^"^' '^ Mercure Hiftoriqne & Politique, torn, cxiii. p, 355. ^ Thefe
"tk'th ^^^^ ^"'^ taken chiefly from private information, ^ Annals
"n^ I, ^ a of Europe for ti)e year 1743, p. 555, and from private information
f^j-^fZ finc« that time.
India com- -.^«^^j
fany. ^ verned,
the Dutch in the Eafl IndteL . 53
verned, the principal commodities (he draws from them,
and the number of inhabitants that are fettled in the places
under her obedience. Let us then begin with that great
city which is the capital of her dominions, fo lately refcued
from the hands of her enemies, which has rifen like a
phoenix, with frefh ftrcngth and beauty, out of her ruins.
Batavia, in the ifland of Java, lies in the latitude of 6 The Jitua'
deg. fouth, and is the capital of the vaft dominions belong- tion and
ing to the Dutch Eafl India company. It ferves alfo for out-worhof
the emporium, where all the merchandize and riches that ^^^ '^^atital
great company poflefs are laid up (B). It is furrounded of the
by a rampart of one-and-twenty feet thick, covered on the Dutch ht-
outfide Math flone, and fortified with twenty-two baftions. ^'^^*
This rampart is environed by a ditch about forty-five yards
over, and full of water, efpecially v/hen the tides are high
in the fpring ^. The avenues to the town are defended by
feveral forts, well furnifiied with excellent brafs cannon.
Among thefe forts there are fix which deferve to be parti-
cularly mentioned ; namely, thofe of Anfiol, Anke, Jaca-
tra, Ryfwyck, Noordwych, and Vythock. The fort of
Anfiol is feated on a river of the fame name, eaftward from
the fea, and at the diftance of about twelve hundred yards
from the city j it is built entirely of fquare ftone, and has
a fl:rong garrifon. The fort of Anke is on a river of the
fame name, to the weftward of the coaft, and difi:ant from
the city about five hundred yards ; built like the former,
entirely ofTquare ftone. The fort of Jacatra lies alfo on a
river of the fame name, is exa£lly like the other two forts,
and lies alfo at the diftance of about five hundred paces
from the city. The road thither is between two rows of
very fine trees regularly planted, with very beautiful coun-
try-houfes and gardens on each fide. The other three
forts are built in the fame manner, and of the fame mate*
c NieuhofF's Voyages, in Churchill's CoUedlion, vol. ii. p. 321.
(B) One great advantage without it, by which the vie*
that this city poiTeiTes, and lence of the wind is fo check «-
without which indeed file could ed, and the force of the waves
hardly fubfift, is that large fo broken, that it may be con-,
and commodious bay, in the fidercd not only as one of the
hofom of which flie may be fafeft harbours in the Indies,
faid to lie. There are feven- but in thevvorld ; and fo ca-
teen or eighteen iilands feat- pacious, that it is thought a
tered along the mouth of the thoufand fail of iliips might be.
harbour, fome within and fome fheltered there,
E 3 rials,
54
Jis lar^e
compafsf
gatesy
churcheSt
find other
public
ifi^ildings.
Conquejlsy Settlements, and Dtfcoverles of
rials, lying all on the land fide of the town, and at a very
fmall diftance from it ^. By this difpofition the two firll
ferve to fecure the city on the fide of the fea ; and the
other four defend its entrances on the land fide, and at the
fame time prote6l the houfes, plantations, and gardens,
of the inhabitants. In virtue of thefe prudent meafures, it
is eafy to comprehend that no enemy can ever furprife this
city, becaufe, on which ever fide they (hould endeavour to
attack it, they would be fure to meet with a ftrong refiftance.
They take, befides, another precaution, which is, the not
fufFering any perfon to go beyond thefe forts without a
paflport *'.
The river, which preferves ftill its ancient name of Ja-
catra, pafles through the midft of the town, and forms fif-
teen canals of running water, all f^iced \yith free-ftone, and
adorned Math trees that are ever green, affording a mofb
chayming profpeft. Over thefe canals there are fifty-fix
bridges, befides thofe which lie without the town. The
flreets are all of them perfectly ftrait, and each of them,
generally fpeaking, thirty feet broad. The houfes are
built of (lone, after the manner of thofe in Holland ; and
are moft of them very high, becaufe the place has not, at
leaft of late years, been expofed to hurricanes. The city
is about a league and a half in circumference ; it is fur-
rounded with a vaft number of houfes, fo that there are
ten times the number without that there are within it 5
and therefore ftri£lly fpeaking, they ought to be regarded
as its fuburbs. This city has five gates, including that of
th^ port ; near to which there is a barrier, regularly (hut
at nine o'clock in the evening, and at which there is pofled
night and day a ftrong guard of foldiers. There were for-
merly fix gates"; the laii, being called Speelman's Gate, bc^
c^ufe built by governor Speelman, who died January the
nth, 1684, has been walled up fince ^ There is a very
fine town-houfe, and four churches for the ufe of thofe
of the reformed religion, that is to fay the Calvinifts. The
iirfl of thefe w^as built in the year 1640, and is called
Kruifhkirk, that is, Crofs-church. The fecond was built
in 1670 J in both thefe they preach in Dutch. The third
belongs to the Proteftant Portuguefe ; and the fourth to
the Malayans. Befides thefe churches, there are abun-
dance of other places of worfhip for all forts of religions.
A Corneille le Brun, cap. Ixii.
gewin, Nieuhoff, de Graaf.
kaux, cap. xxi.
Nieuhoff, De Graaf. e Rog-
f L'Expetlition dc trois VaiT-
They
the Dutch in the Eaft Indies. 55
They have likewife in this city a fpin-huys, or a houfe of
correal ofiy in which women who behave loofely are con-
fined ; an orphan-houfe, a magazine of fea-ftores, feveral
for fpices, wharfs, cord-manufa6lures, and many other
public buildings s.
The garrifon confifls commonly of between two and Strength of
three thoufand men. Befides the number of forts before the garri-
fpoken of, there is the famous citadel of Batavia, which y^ ^''^ ''"
is a very fine regular fortification, fituated at the mouth *
of the river facing the city, and flanked with four baflions,
two of which command the fea, and the other two the
town. This citadel hath two great gates, the one called
the Company's Gate, built in 1636, with a bridge of
fquare Hone, confilling of fourteen arches, each twenty-
fix yards long, and ten feet broad; the other called the
Water Gate, built in 1630^. All the keepers of the ma-
gazines have their lodgings in the citadel, along both fides
of the curtain. There are, befides, two pofterns, one
in the eaft curtain, the other in the wefl:, which are never
opened but for the fervice of the garrifon. It is in this ci-
tadel that the governor-general of the Indies has his pa-
lace, which is built of brick, with a moft noble front
after the Italian manner. Over-againll this palace is that
of the director-general, who is the next perfon to the go-
vernor. The counfellors, and other principal ofiicers of
the company, have alfo their apartments there, as have
likewife the phyfician, the furgeon, and the apothecary.
There is a little church, which was built in 1664, re-
markably neat and light. There are, befides, in the cita-
del, arfenals and magazines furniflied with ammunition
for many years ; in a word, this citadel is the general fac-
tory where all the archives are kept, and where all the
afi^airs of the company are tranfa6ted *. The city of Ba-
tavia is not only inhabited by Dutch, but alfo by a vafi:
number of Indians of different nations. The former, that
is to fay, the Dutch, are all of them either free burgefies,
or in the fervice of the company. There are likewife
abundance of Portuguefe, French, and other Europeans,
eltablifhed here on account of trade. Thefe Portuguefe
are for the moft part defcendents of thofe who refided
here formerly, or at Goa, and who, finding their account
in living under fo mild a government, did not think fit to
remove when the fea-coalls of the illand of Java were re-
g Relation de la Ville de Batavia. h NieuhofF, De Graaf,
Le Brun. i L'Expedition de trois Vaifieaux. De Graaf.
E 4 duced
5$ Conquefts, Settlements^ and Difcoveries of
duced under the dominion of the Eaft India company.
They are at prefent, at lead a far greater part of them,
of the eftabHfhed, that is to fay, of the Proteftant, re-
formed religion. As for the Indian inhabitants, they are
Javanefe, or natives of the country, Chinefe, Malayans,
Negroes, Amboynefe, Armenians, natives of the ille of
Bali, Mardykers, MacafTars, Timors, and Bougis ^.
With regard to liberty of confcience, all the inhabitants
of this city enjoy it, let them be of what fe£t they will,
only they have not the public exercife of their worfhip ^
Priefts and monks are not permitted here, more than in
the United Provinces, to walk the ftreets in the habits of
their refpe£tive orders ; yet all are allowed to live there
in peace, except the Jefuits, and they are excluded, not
on account of their religion, but for fear of their in-
trigues, and their exciting troubles and difturbances here,
»s they have done in moft places where they were formerly
eftablifhed. With refpecSt to the Chinefe, as their reli-
gion i« an abomination, they are not allowed a pagoda
in the city ; but they have one at a place about a league
off, where they likewife bury their dead. Every Indian
nation at Batavia has its head, or chief, who takes care
of its interefts ; but he has not the power of deciding any
thing that is confiderable, and his function, properly
fpeaking, regards only the affairs of their religion, and
any flight controverfies that may arife among his country-
men "\ In order to give a clear idea of the manner in
which thefe people live at Batavia, it will be proper to fay
fomewhat of each of thefe Indian nations, and of their
different manners of employing themfelves.
Temper, The Javanefe addict themfelves chiefly to agriculture,
Kujioms, fiihing, and fhip-building. They commonly wear no
and man- other habit than a kind of fhort petticoat reaching to their
Tf the ^^ knees, all the reft of their bodies naked ; they have like-
Javanefe "wife acrofs their (boulders a fort of fafh, or fcarf, in which
as remain hangs a little fhort fword ; on their heads they wear a
(It Bata- little bonnet. Their cabins are remarkably neater than
^^^* . thofe of other Indian nations, built of fpHt bamboos, with
a large fpreading roof which hangs over the houfe, and
under which they fit and take the air.
^n account The Chinefe inhabitants are very numerous. Thefe
of the Cht' people feem naturally born for trade, enemies to idlenefs,
Batavia, ^ Relation de la Ville de Batavia, Leguat. ^ L'Expedition
de tros Vaifleaux, cap. 21. Le Brun, De Graaf, «» Relation
de la Ville de Batavia,
and
the Dutch in the Eaft Indies: 57
and who think nothing hard or laborious jif doing it is at-
tended with a certainty of gain. They can live upon very
little, are bold, enterprifing, have a great deal of addrefs,
and are indefatigably induflrious. They have a penetra-
tion and fubtiity very extraordinary, infomuch that they
feem to make good their own faying, that the Dutch have
one eye, and they have two " ; but, with all*-, his, they are
deceitful to the iaft degree, take a pride in impofing upon
thofe wlio deal with them, and boaft of that cunning of
which they ought to be afhamed. In hufbandry and na-
vigation they very far furpafs all other Indian nations.
Moft of the fugar-mills in Batavia belong to them, and the
diftillery of arrack is entirely in their hands °. They are
the carriers of Alia, and the Eaft India company itfelf
frequently makes ufe of their veflels p. They keep all the
fliops, and moft of the inns in the city, and are likewife
the farmers of the duties, excifes, and cuftoms.
The Malayans who live at Batavia, employ themfelves An account
chiefly in fifhing ; their veflels are very neat and fhewy, °f^^^ ^*
and their fails very ingenioufly made of ftraw. They are ^J^g^/and'
a moft wicked and profligate people, and often commit Amboyneje*
murders for very trifling gains. They profefs the Moham-
medan religion, but are abfolutely void of morals ; fo that,
inftead of having any fcruple, they make a merit of cheat-
ing Chriftians. The habits they wear are either filk or
cotton ftufl^; the men bind a piece of cotton cloth about
their heads, with their black hair tied up in a knot be-
hind *J. The Negroes, who live at Batavia, are moft of
them Mohammedans. They come from the coaft of Ben-
gal, drefs in the fame manner as the Malayans, and live
in the fame quarter; fome of thpm work at trades, others
are a kind of pedlars. The moft confiderable of them
trade in ftone for building, which they bring from the
neighbouring iflands. The Amboynefe employ themfelves
in building of houfes with bamboos, the windows of which
are made of fplit cane, very neatly wrought in difl^erent
figures. They are a very bold boifterous people, and fo
turbulent, that they are not fufl^ered to live in the city,
but have their quarter near the Chinefe burying-ground ■■.
" Relation de la Ville de Batavia. Leguat Voyage aux Indes.
^ Nieuhoff's Voyages, p. 317. Le Brun, De Graaf. Geograohie
Moderne, par Abraham dii Bois, p. 690. P Hiftoire de I'Ex-
pedition de tiois Vaifleaiix, vol. ii. p. 60. 9 Relation de la
Villede Batavia, par Nicolas de Graaf. L'Expedition de trois
Vaiireaux, torn. ii. p. 66. r jani5on Etat prefent de la Repub-
lique des Province^-unies, torn. i. p. 351, 353.
They
^8 ConqtteftSi SetflementSy and Dtfcoveries of
They have a chief, to wliom they pay the greateft fubmif-
fion, and he has a very magnificent houfe in their quar-
ter, well furniflied after their manner. Their arms arc
for the moft part loiig fabres and large bucklers. The
men wear a piece of cotton cloth round their heads, letting
the two corners of it haiig behind ; and adorn this kind of
turban with abundance of flowers. The women wear a
fort of habit clofe to their body, wrapping a cotton man-
tle round their fhoulders, which leaves their arms naked.
Their houfcs are built of boards covered with leaves, two
or three flories high, and the ground-floors particularly
divided into feveral apartments.
Cfthe The Mardykers, or Topafl^es, are idolaters compofed of
Marjykers divers nations of Indians, and arc of difl^erent trades and
OF^JJ^^* profeffions ; their merchants carry on a great commerce
in all the neighbouring iflands. Some of them are gar-
deners, others breed cattle, and fome fowls. The men
generally drefs after the Dutch fafhion, but the women
go like other Indians. They dwell both in the city and
country. Their houfes are much better built than
thofe of the reft of the Indians, being, generally fpeaking,
either of ftone or brick, feveral flories high, and very neat.
Macajfars^ There are alfo at Batavia fome of the Macaflars
Armenians, famous for their little poifoned arrows, which they blow
and other through a trunk. This poiibn is made of the juice of a
tkm in the certain tree, which grows in that part of the ifland of
£&mp-anfs Celebes called MacaiTar, and alfo in the Bougie iflands ;
di^riQ* they dip the points of their arrows in this juice, and then
let them dry. The wound they give is abfolutely mortal.
The Bougies are the inhabitants of three or four iflands
near that of Macafl^ar ; and, fmce the conqueft of this
laft ifland, have fettled at Batavia. They are very hardy,
bold fellows, for which reafon the company ufe them' as
foldiers. Their arms are bows and arrov^s, fabres and
bucklers '. The Armenians, and fome other Afiatics M'ho
refide in Batavia, go thither purely on the fcore of trade,
and ftay no longer than their occafions call them. The
natives of the comitry, who are eftablifhed in the neigh-
bourhood of Batavia, and for a tra61: of about forty lea-
gues along i;he mountains of the country of Bantam, are
immediately fubjeft to the governor-general. The com-
pany fend droflards, or commijjaries, amongft them, who
adminifter juftice, and take care of the public revenues.
The principal men amongft thefe people refort at certain
8 Nieuhoff's Voyages, p, 316,
times
the Dutch In the Eajl Indies. 59
times to Batavia, in order to give an account how thefe
commilTaries behave, with refpe6l to what they call the
low country, which is immediately about the city, where
thofe in the government, and rich merchants, have their
country houfes. It is inexpreflibly beautiful ; and one
may without exaggeration affirm, that art and nature feem
to contend which fhall adorn it moft. The air is tem-
perate and fweet, the foil rich and fruitful, pleafantly di-
verfified with hills and dales, and wonderfully delighting
the eye with its perpetual verdure ^ On the other hand,
that excefs of moifture, v/hich formerly nouriilied ufeiefs.
woods, from whence arofe infeftious exhalations, is now
diverted into canals, that ferve at once for profit and
pleafure. Rich and regular plantations appear on every
fide, to moll of which belong manfion-houfes that fall
little fliort of palaces ; and every thing is kept in fo good
order, as to do honour to their pofleflbrs ". The com-
pany's territories are not however confined within thefe
narrow bounds ; her authority extends into different parts
of the ill and, and therefore, to form a jufl: notion of it,
we muft look abroad through its whole extent.
The ifland of Java may be about three hundred leagues The fitua'
in circumference, divided into abundance of kingdoms and ^'"'^ °J , *he
principalities, all of them dependent on the emperor, who ^^^'^^l^'
refides at Kattafura. We mufl however except out of jaqja, and
the number of thefe tributary princes the kings of Bantam tkeir fub^
snd Japara^ who do not acknowlege his authority. The jedlori or
country produces not only all things necefTary for the fub- '^,^^!^ ^,",
fiflence of man, but large proportions of thofe valuable
efPecls which form the commerce of the country. It is
divided by many rivers, woods and mountains, in all of
which nature has very bountifully bellowed her treafures \
It is certain, that in fome parts of the ifland there are
gold mines. The regency at Batavia, in hopes of pro-
fiting by them, wrought for fome years the mountains of
Parang ; but it fell out that the marcafites were not fully
ripened, fo that the company were at the expence of a
million to no purpofe. Such as had the direction of this
enterprize were very much cenfured, and the works have
been long fince difcontinued. There are people who are,
notwithftanding, thoroughly perfuaded that the natives of
the country find, in many places, confiderable quantities
t Journal du Voyage de Siam, par I' Abbe Choify, p. 175, 176,
" L'Expedition de trois VaiiTeaux, torn. ii. p. 114, 115, * Ha-
iniltoa's Account of the Eaft Indies, voh.ii. p. ia6.
of
6a
frequent
earth-
quakes-
Of the
fruits,
animals,
fijby &c. in
this noble
ijiand of
Javat as
jmpro'ved
by the
Dutch,
Conqueflsy Settlements^ and DifcGveries of
of gold, which places, however, they carefully conceal
from the Europeans. During the war at Java, which
Jailed from the year 1716 to 1721, the inhabitants of
fome parts of the country were fo often and fo miferably
plundered, that they were reduced to abfolute beggary,
yet it was obferved, that in the fpace of one year's peace
thefe very people grew exceffively rich, and had not only
great quantities of gold in dufl, but alfo in ingots y.
The mountains are many of them fo high, as to be feen
at the diftance of three or four leagues. They have fre-
quent and very terrible earthquakes in this country, which
ftiake the city and places adjacent to fuch a degree, that
the fall of the houfes is expected ever moment.
The inhabitants are of opinion that thefe earthquakes
proceed from the mountain Parang, which is full of ful-
phur, faltpetre, and bitumen, all which, taking fire,
caufe a prodigious flruggle in the bowels of the earth,
and of confequence an earthquake ; and they aflure us,
that it is very common, after fuch an accident, to fee
a large cloud of fmoke hanging over the top of the moun-
tain.
The fruits and plants in this ifland are all, in their re-
fpe£tive kinds, excellent. There are abundance of forefts
fcattered over the ifland, in which are buffaloes, tygers,
rhinocerofes, and w^ild horfes, with an infinite variety of
ferpents, fome of them of an enormous fize. Crocodiles
or alligators are prodigioufly large in Java, and are found
chiefly in the mouths of rivers ; for, being amphibious
animals, they delight moft in marflies and favannahs.
Fowls they have of all .forts, and exquifitely good, ef-
pecially peacocks, partridge, pheafants, wood-pigeons ;
they have alfo, the Indian bat, which differs little in form
from our's, but its wings, when extended, meafure a full
yard, and the body of it is of the fize of a rat*. They
have fifti in great plenty, of different forts, and very good.
They have likewife a multitude of tortoifes, the fleih of
which is equally nourifhing and delicious. As the flat
country abounds with all forts of provifion, there are
daily great quantities brought to Batavia ; and, to prevent
any danger of fcarcity, the veffels belonging to the com-
pany are continually employed in bringing, from the moft
diftant parts of the ifland, provifions, fpices, and other
y L'Expedition de trois Taifleaux, torn. ii. p. 114., 115. z Voy-
ages de Fiangois Leguat, torn, ii. p. 86- L'Expedition de trois
Vaiffeaux, torn. ii. p. 117. Nieuhoff's Voyages, p. 321—363.
necef-
the Dutch in the Eaft Indies, 6i
neceflaries, fuch as indigo, rice, pepper, cardamoms, and
coffee. There are alfo laid up in the magazines at Ba-
tavia, all the various kinds of rich and valuable commo-
dities, not of Java only, but ail the Indies, ready to be
tranfported thence, either to other ports of the company's
dominions, or in the fhips that in great fleets return an-
nually to Holland ^
Upon the whole, if vi^e may depend on the concurring A general
teftimony of the Dutch writers, and more efpecially fuch vie^ of
as have vilited the Indies, and refided in the city of Bata- ^^^^fi^^^*
via, we mufl believe, that the company have fixed the feat ^nJ popu-
of their empire not only on the fpot moft commodious for loufnefs of
their commerce, but in one of the faireft, mod fruitful, the ivhole
and bed peopled countries in the univerfe. This will (ui-^^J^^"^*
iiciently appear, from what has been already faid, as well
as from the following facSls, which they aihrm from their
own knowlege : there are in Java upwards of forty great
towns, which, for the number of their inhabitants, would,
in any other part of the world, merit the title of cities,
and more than four thoufand five hundred villages, befides
hamlets and draggling houfes lying very near each other,
upon the fea-coafl, and in the neighbourhood of great
towns •, fo that, upon a fair and moderate calculation,
there are within the bounds of the whole ifland, taking in
perfons of both fexes, and of all ranks and ages, more
than thirty millions of fouls ; fo that it is thrice as popu-
lous as France, which, though twice as big, is not re-
puted to have more than twenty millions of inhabitants *.
But, after all, what moft aftonifhes wife men is, that gy t^^^t a
the Dutch company fhould be able, in fo fliort a fpace oi fudden and
time as fixteen years from her firft incorporation, to efta- furprifmg
blifh a fettlement on the ruins of a royal city, and, in the ^^°J']^ '^'',
fpace of a few years afterwards, defend that fettlement ^^„^ ^^/-^^
againft the united force of this whole ifland. It is very from being
true, that not lefs than forty years were fpent in bringing fuppliants,
the city of Batavia, and all its fortrefles, to perfection, ^°'^^ ''^"^
and yet, during this fpace, the company undertook, and reiJns'onjer
e(Fecled very great defigns, conquered vaft countries by the Java^
their arms, and obliged many rich and potent princes not nefe.
only to court her favour, but to place their fafety in feek-
ing her protedlion ^.
*> Janigon Etnt prefent de la Republique des Provinces-unies,
torn. i. p. 3 39, 340, 3^1. L'Expedition de tro^s Vaiffeaux, torn, ii,
p. izr, T22, 123. I Mcraoires de Gargin. "^ NieuhofF's
Vo^-ages, p. 320.
To '
62 Conquejls, Settlements^ and Difiovenes of
To gain a clear conception of what the Dutch Eaft In-
dia company really is, to frame a true notion of its dominion
and power, to know what countries are in its poflefTion,
what trade it carries on, and how fuch a mixed and mighty
empire is managed, requires much more to be laid, and",
indeed, a new field to be opened. We muft enquire dili-
gently into the fchcme of her foreign policy, and collect
carefully what has been written concerning her govern-
ments, directions, commandcries, eftablilhments, and
faftories ; for without following this plan, we can have
only fuperficial and confufed fentiments of that grandeur,
which, as it arofe from, and is maintained by naval power,
ought to be clearly and particularly underftood.
We will therefore try what may be done towards at-
taining a fhort and true defcription of the reft of thofe
provinces, which, with Batavia, make up the eight great
governments that belong to the company, in each of
which they are, in fome meafure, fovereigns, as having
at leaft the executive power in their hands, without con-
trol ; for the company give the title of governor only to
him who adminifters juftice to their own fubje<Sls, in
countries where no other European nation has either fettle-
ment or trade, but by their permiffion.
SECT. XVI.
yl View of the great Government of Ceylon, Some At'*
tempts of the Dutch Governors^ to render themfehes
independent. The Profits accridng to the Company
from their Pojfejfion of the Coafts of this valuable
Country ; and their fingular Precaution in excluding
all other Nations,
Ciyhn, or 'T^KE firft and beft government after Batavia is that of
Cetlan^ the "^ the iiland of Ceylon. The governor is ufually one of
frfigo- the council of the Indies, and his council appointed to af-
'^1^"^/'^' fift him framed in the fame manner with that of Batavia*
%]a mi' Though the governor of Ceylon is dependent on the ccun-
has \ecu' cil at Batavia, he is at liberty to write immediately to the
iiar prero' direcSlors in Holland, without alking the permiffion of the
gaiivei* governor-general, or without giving an account of his
conduct in that refpecl ®. This fingular prerogative has
e Bafnage Defcription hiftorique du Government des Provinces-
unies, chap. 37. L'Expedition de trois Vailleaux, torn. ii.
p. 124, 125. Memoircs deDr, Gar9in.
had
the Dutch in the Eafi Indies. ^3
had bad effe£ls, becaufe it has tempted the governors of
Ceylon to withdraw their obedience, in order to become
abfolute fovereigns of the iiland. There have been feveral
examples of this kind ; but it will be fulHcient to dwell
here on the two lafl, which have made fo much noife ia
Europe. Thefe Indian commotions were owing to the
tyranny of two governors, who immediately fucceeded
each other, the one named Vuiit, and the other Ver-
fluys.
As foon as Mr. Rumpf left his government of Ceylon, *Ihe k^ary
Mr. Vuift, his fuccellbr, began to a6l the barbarian to- <^f Mr,
wards all who were not in his good graces. He perfecuted f^'^* "-^^
the Europeans as well as the Indians ; and having, from ^^Jllr^Tf
the beginning, this projeft in his head, he purfued it enha^mr^
fteadily, and by methods that were fitted for accompliih- edto makt
ing his purpofe. In the firft place, he thought it necef- ^ dej^&insim
fary to rid himfejf of the richeib perfons in the iiland, and
of fuch as were of reputation for experience and penetra-
tion. In order to fave appearances, he thought it requifite
to forge a plot, and caufed informations to be preferred
againit fuch as he intended to ruin, for a confpiracy to
betray and deliver up the principal fortrefles in the iiland
to fome foreign power ; which fcheme ferved him doubly ;
for, firit, it feemed to manifefl a great zeal for the com-
pany's fervice, and next, it gave him an opportunity to
convidl: thoie he hated of high treafon, which deprived
them at once of life and fortune. To manage this more
efFe£lually, he thought fit to change his council, and
bring into it fuch as he could depend on. The confifca-
tion of the eftates and effeds of a number of innocent
perfons he condemned and murdered, under colour of his
attention to the public welfare, put it in his power to ob-
lige many, and to raife a vaft number of creatures. This
modern Cataline was born in the Indies, of Dutch parents,
had naturally a ftrong capacity, which he had improved
by an afhduous application. His dark brow, and cloudy
air, fulhciently fliewed the cruelty of his difpofition, and
that flintinefs of heart which diftinguiOied him from other
men. He loved and protected the Indians, either from
natural inclination, as they were his countrymen, or be-
caufe he thought them lefs capable of penetrating, and lefs
willing to traverfe, his defigns. In order to gain iheni
entirely to his devotion, he preferred them as often as any
vacancies fell in his government, and this in direft op-
pofition to the repeated inftruftions of the company, cii-
re£ling him to bellow the principal pods in the iiland on
Dutchmen,
64
Wsfchemes
deteSied,
and himfelj
depofed,
fent to Ba-
ta<via, and
punijhed as
he defer<V'
id.
Mr. Fer-
JluySi ivho
fucceeded
him in the
go'vern-
ment, em-
barks alfo
in pern-.ci'
ous defigns.
Conquefls, Settlements, and D'lfcoveries of
Dutchmen, or other Europeans. He carried on his de-
figns for a long time with the greateft dexterity, acquiring
by gifts, and other artifices, a prodigious number of de-
pendents, who were ready to fupport him even in the
blackeft defigns ^
This conduct, however, he could not follow without
giving umbrage to fome of the company's faithful fervants,
who fent over to Holland fuch clear and perfect informa-
tions of his behaviour, as gave fufficient light into his real
intentions, in fpite of all the arts he made ufe of to con-
ceal them. At laft, the company fent Mr. Verlluys di-
reftly to Ceylon to fucceedhim, with orders to fendVuift
prifoner to Batavia, where he was called to an account
for his conduct. As foon as he arrived in that place,
abundance of informations were preferred againft him^
for a variety of crimes, of a private as well as public na-
ture; into all which, the council of juflice caufed the
flrifteft inquifition to be made, and took care to be fur-
niftied with every kind of proof. In fine, after abundance
of examinations, he freely confefTed, that he had caufed
nineteen innocent perfons to be mod cruelly put to death ;
adding, that as he had, to keep up a fliew of juflice, put
them all to the torture, fo, by the fcverity of this proceed-
ing, he had extorted from every one of them a confeffion
of crimes, none of which had ever fo much as entered in-
to their heads. Such flagrant offences certainly deferved
the feverell punlfhment the laws could intli61: ! The fen-
tence paffed upon him was to this effe£t : that he fhould
be broken alive upon the wheel, his body immediately
quartered, and thofe quarters burnt on a pile of wood ;
the afhes to be put in a cafk, and thrown into the fea, as
unworthy of any other interment : which fentence, with-
out the leafh mitigation, was put in execution s.
As Mr. Verfluys fucceeded Vulflln his government, fo
he imitated him alfo in his behaviour, infligated, however,
by avarice rather than ambitior.. This man had by no
means the cruelty of Vuift, and therefore he fhed no
blood, but adled as defpotically as the other. The great
point he aimed at was not the pofTeffion of the country,
but the poiTeflion of all that was valuable in it. As foon
as he was fettled in his poll, he raifed the price of rice,
which is the bread of that country, to fuch an extravagant
f L'Expedition de trois VaifTeaux, torn. ii. p. 326, 117.
n3ge Dcicription hiftoriqne c^u Government des Provir
chap. 37, L'Expedition de trois Vaifi'eaux, tom. ii, p. 1
g Baf-
)n nuioriqne r.u Ljovernment cies Provincesur.ies,
cpedition de trois Vaifi'eaux, tom. ii, p. 128, 129.
height.
the Dutch in the Eajl Indies. 6$
height J that in a vtery fhort time the people were not able to pur-
chafe it, fo that they were by degrees reduced to ftarving.
Their humble reprefentations of the mifery which reigned
among all ranks of people throughout the whole ifland,
made no manner of impreffion Upon him ; but things went
on from bad to worfe, till an account of his condu£t was
fent over to Holland ^. The States General were no fooner
informed of the diftrefs of the inhabitants of Ceylon, than
they appointed a new governor, one Mr. Doembourg, and
gave him particular initruttions to repair pad errors, and
to treat the fubje£l:s of the Eaft India company with all the
tei^dernefs and indulgence poflible, that they might be
convinced their grievances proceeded from the wickednefs
of particular men, and not from any difpofition in their
fovereigns to opprefTion.
On the arrival of Mr. Doembourg things afTumed a new Th Stater
and unexpe£led face : Verfluys took it into his head that General
they would defend him againil: his maftcrs, and therefore i"i^^pof^j
refufed to furrender the government, and had even the in- ^^^/^'^
folence to fire upon the company's fliips, as they lay in the „e^ go»
road of Colombo : but Mr. Doembourg landing, his au^ 'vernor,
thority was immediately acknowleged by all in the com* i^^'ho Jei^ei
pany's fervice, and by the people. He caufed Verfluys to ^v ^■^*
be arrefted, and fent prifoner to Batavia, where a long
criminal profecution was carried on againft him^ but with
indifferent fuccefs; for he had taken care to cover himfelf
fo efiectually, that it was found impofTible to obtain other
than circumftantial proofs. At laft he thought proper to
lay down a very large fum of money to attend the event of
the fuit -, and was fet at liberty, that he might be the more
able to manage his defence himfelf ^
The ifland of Ceylon is juftly effeemed one of the faireft A port ae*
and richell in the world, and for that reafon is confidered count of the
with jealous eyes by its polTefTors, as well as with envy by ^ondttion of
their neighbours. The principal places therein are Jafna- a" ^i'vided
patam, Trinkenemale, Materolo, Punta de Galo, Columbo, between the
Nljombo, Scitavaca, and Candy ^. The Eafl India com- nativesand
pany are pofTefTed of the whole coafts of the ifland ; of the the Dutch,
country, ten or twelve leagues within land ; and of mod
of the towns before mentioned. The Portuguefe, who
were formerly eftablifhed here, built abundance of forts
for their own fecurity, fo that it was a very difficult mat-
^ L'Expedition de trois Vaiffeanx, torn- li. p. 130, 131.
' Ibid. p. 131, I3Z. k janitjoa Etat prefent dc-la Republiq^uc
des Provinces-unies, torn. i. p. 369,
Mod, Vol. IX. V ter
company.
66 Conquejlsy Settlements, and Difcoverks of
ter to diflodge them ; but when once the Dutch had con-
trafted a fecrec alliance with the king of Candy, who was
fovereign of bell part of the ifland, they fuddenly found
themfelves attacked on all fides by land and by fea, and were
by degrees driven totally out of all their poflefFions. As
the Dutch have ever fince taken great pains to keep up a
good correfpondence with that monarch, they have ob-
tained from him almoft whatever they demanded '.
Inpances of The company fend every year an embaffy to him, with
the good' various prefents j in return for which he fends the com-
Incebe- P^^^ ^ cabinet of jewels, of fo great value, that the vef- ,
t^een the fe^ which carries it home is looked upon to be worth half
emperor of the fleet '". The governor-general takes care himfelf to
Ceykn and j^^ve it fo packed among the refb of the merchandize, that
Eaffnl not only none of the fhip's company, but even the captain
of the veflel that carries it knows not whether it be on
board his fliip, a circumftance which fhews the immenfe
wealth the company draws from her dominions in the In-
dies, and at the fame time the wife and prudent meafures
fhe employs to fecure the riches fhe obtains. The two
principal places in this ifland are Punta de Gallo and Co-
lumbo. This laft place is the refidence of the governor and
his council ; and the other is properly no more than the
port of that city ". The air of Ceylon, though very hot, is
notwithflanding efteemed to be tolerably wholefome. The
country abounds with excellent fruits of all kinds. They
have likewife great plenty of rivers,, of fea-fifh of various
forts, fowls wild and tame, as alfo animals, particularly
elephants, much larger than in any other country of the
Indies, tygers, bears, civet-cats, apes, &c. Such is the
dominion of the company in this important ifland, abound-
ing with all good things ^ (C).
But
J Memoires de Dr. Gargin. m L'Expedition de trois Vaifleaux,
torn. ii. p. J 39. ^- Voyages de Nicholas Graaf, p. 113. « Me-
moires fur ie Commerce des Hollandois, p. 207. Jani^on Etat pre-
fent de la Republique des Provinces-unies, torn. i. p. 371.
(C) The emperor oi Ceylon his credit may be in fome mea-
ftill remains in all refpetts a fure hurt by being fo much as
very poweitul 'prince, his ter- he is under the influence of the
ritories being of a valt extent, Dutch; yet his authority is
his revenue immenfe, his court better fupported, and his re-
fplendid, and his fubieds fo venue not at all the lefs for
numerous, that he can bring what they pollefs in this ifland,
two -hundred thoufand tightinc^ On the other hand, they are
men into the field; and though pretty fecure, and have no
reafon
the hutch in the Eqft IndleSi
67
But tliat for which the Ifland is mod famous, is its cin- The vajl
namon, efteemed by far the beft in all Alia. Cinnamon riches of
is properly fpeaking, the inner bark of a tree which js not ^.^{J/:,^"'
Unlike that which bears oranges; the ilowers differ but little
mon, pre^
from thofe of the laurel-tree in their fize and figure. There dousftonssf
are three forts of cinnamon, the fined, which is taken from and pearls*
young trees ; a coarfer fort, taken from the old ones ; and
wild cinnamon, which grows not only here, but in Mala-
reafon to apprehend any fud-
den danger from i'o powerfLd a
neighbour, fince they have fo
many excellent fortreires on all
lides of the ifland. That of
Jafanapatam lies in the north,
where the land is broke into fe-
veral iflands ; and as the Dutch
fancy that the whole country
refembles a ham, fo this mull
pafs for the knuckle of it, and
thence they give it the name of
Hamllieel. To this fortrefs,
one of the beft arid moil: regu-
lar in the ifland, all the adja-
cent country and little iflands
arefubjeft, and are all of them
well inhabited. Columboftands
on the weft fide of t|?e ifland,
looking towards Cape Com-
morin, on the fide of a bay in-
to which fmall veflels may en-
ter, but cannot ride with any
great fafety, becaufe it lies
expofed to the north wind.
The city was very large and
beautiful when in the hands of
the Portuguefe ; at prefent
fmaller in compafs, but neater
and ftronger, being ftill the
capital or place where the
Dutch governor refidcs. Ponte
de Galio is feated on the fouth-
weft of the ifland, which is the
beft port, and in that refpedt
efteemed the moft important
place of all ; and therefore is
in fome meafure exempted
from the jurifd lotion of the go-
vernor. The town ftands on
an eminence, furrounded with
a deep fofle well tortified, and
commanding the port, which is
capable of receiving the largeft
veflt^ls ( I ^. Trinquimula is on
the eaft fide of the ifland, and
has a {i\te and fpacious port.
The Dutch, when they firft
drove out the Portuguefe, put
it into the hands of the em-
peror ; but they have now a
triangular fort, and a good gar-
rifon, for the defence of that
part of the country. In thefe
places they have goodgarrifons,
compofed of regular troops,
magazines well fupplied, and
no want of artillery. In cafe
of a civil war, they could bring
many thoufands of their Chrif-
tian fubjefts into the field, as
brave troops, and better dif-
ciplined than thofe of the em-
peror ; and as to the attempts
of other European nations,
they are in too good a pofture
of defence to entertain anyap-
prehcnfions at prefent; and, in
cafe of any danger, they might
be fpeedily fupplied with ne-
cefl!ary reinforcements of all
kinds from Batavia (2).
(i) Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, vol. ii. p. 200. Hamilton's
Account of the Eaft Indies, vol. i. p. 34.1. (2) Memoires fur Je
Commerce des HoUandois, p. 209.
F 2
bar,
68 Cdnqueftsj Settlements^ and Dlfcoverks of
bar J China, and of late years in Brafil (D) p. The company
alio drive a great trade in the oil which is drawn from
this fpice, antl which is of very great value •, and gains alfo
very confiderably by the precious (tones that are found in
this ifland, which are rubies, faphires, white and blue to-
pazes "^ (E). There is likewife between Manar and Tuto-
corin, on the coaft of Coromandel, a fine pearl-fifhery,
"which brings in a prodigious profit. This is let twice a
year to farm to certain Negro merchants. The oyfl:ers, in
which the pearls are found, lie at the bottom of the fea.
This fifhery is carried on only in fair weather, and when
the fea is extremely calm. The diver has a cord which
paffes under his arms, and is faftened to the boat *, he has
a large flone • {lied to his feet, that he may defcen4 the
quicker ; and a fack or bag about his waift, into which he
puts his oyfters as faft as he finds them. As foon as he is
at the bottom of the fea, he takes up as many as lie within
his reach, and puts them into his bag as fall as poflible.
p Hiftoire de Ceylon, par Ribeyro, p. lo, ii.
naire de Commerce, torn. ii. p. 852.
q Di6lio-
(D) The cinnamon -trees do
not grow all over the illand of
Ceylon, or at leaft not in any
great plenty, or of the bell fort.
The natives, it is faid, diftin-
guifli nine or ten different kinds ;
but, lince the Dutch have been
niafters here, they propagate
only the beft fort, and prohibit
ail the refl. The w.oods that
furnifli this precious fpice lie
raoftly to the north of Colombo ;
and it is the importance of this
commerce that has preferved to
that place the refidence of the
governor, as well under the
Dutch as the Portuguefe. Ac-
cording to the common opinion,
after thefe trees are barked
they, in the fpnce of a tew
years recover that injury, and
are in a condition to be barked
again ; but the bed writers af-
firm quite the contrary ; and
that, when a tree is once bark-
ed, it is cut down to the root,
from whence in a few years rife
one or more flems that are fit
to bark again (9).
(E) It we may rely upon the
concurrent accounts of feveral
perfons of great veracity, who
have lived long in, and were
perfectly acquainted with, the
produ6t of this ifland, there is
no country in the world that
furpaffes it in point of natural
riches. There are mines of fe-
veral metals ; and, in a moun-
tain not far from the capital,
there is one of gold, which the
emperor will not fuffer to be
wrought. As for precious
flones, they are found fome-
time« in the earth, but more
frequently in the rivers and ri-
vulets, that roll with great ra-
pidity down the fides of the
mountains, in the centre of the
ifland (i).
(9) Ribeyro Hiftoire de I'Ifle He Ceylon, p. 12. Memoires de
Dr. Garcin. (') Ribeyro Hiftoire de i'lfle de Ceylon.
In
ihe hutch in the Eafi Indies. ^91
111 order to afcend, he pulls ilrongly a different cord from
that which is tied about his body -, upon which fignal thofe
left in the boat draw him up as fall as they can, while he
endeavours to rid himfelf of the ftone at his feet, that he
may rife the fafter. When thefe boats are full of oyfters,
the negro merchants carry them all over the coafts, and
fell them at fo much a hundred. This kind of trade is
very hazardous for thofe who purchafe the oyfters, fince
fometimes they find pearls of great price, and fometimes
none at all, or fuch as are but of little value ^.
The company draws alfo a confiderable profit from the Prudeiue
manufa^Slures of muilin, chintz, and other cotton cloths; and polity
yet the greateft part of the muflins fent into Europe come jyl^^^ ;^
not from hence, but from the coaft of Malabar, The ^i^^^r cm--
Chingulays, or native inhabitants of the illand of Ceylon, duaia-
are generally fpeaking very tall, of a very dark complexion, "voards the
and their ears exceflively enlarged by the heavy ornaments *'''"'"*'•
which they wear in them. They are men of great courage, ^
live very hard, and therefore make goodfoldiers; generally
fpeaking of the Mohammedan religion, but there are alfo
amongft them idolaters, who worfhip cows and calves.
They do not pay much refpe£t to the Dutch ; but treat
them rather with contempt, and fcornfuUy ftyle them their
coaft-keepers. The Dutch do not trouble themfelves much
about this reproach ; but,' like good politicians, take all the
care in the world to keep up a perfe6l correfpondence with
the king of Candy, that he may never be tempted to quar-
rel with, and refufe them his affiftance, which would ef-
fectually deftroy the moft valuable part of their com-
merce *.
His fubjedls are particularly remarkable fgr their great There-
fkill in taming elephants, which they ufe as beafts of bur- ^nains of
den in time of peace, and in time of war make them very ^^^ f^^A
ferviceable againft their enemies. They are alfo of great chingulayu
value, confidered as commodities ; fince the Mogul, the by them
kings of Pegu and Siam, and indeed all the Eallern princes con'verted^
in general, are willing to purchafe them almoil at any rate. "^^^-^ ^^'
It feems there are ftill remaining in this illand, as well as q^^Iq^^
in the countries pofTefied by the king of Candy, or, as it is
frequently fpelt, Gandy, as in the territories of the Dutch,
numbers of the defcendants from the Portuguefe ; fince
we find, that fo lately as the treaty of Utrecht, a very warm
T MetTJoires fur le Commerce des HollandoiSj p, 15,9 J/E^pe-
dition de trois Vaifleaux, torn. ii. p. 141. s Memoires d«
Pr. Garcin. Ribeyio, Graaf.
F 3 -applicatiQa
JO Conquejlsy Settlements, and Difcoverles of
application was made to the States General, by the Portu-
guefe ambafTador, that they might have leave either to af-
femble for the celebration of divine fervice in private
houfes, or be allowed to refort to the churches in the fron-
tier villages belonging to that prince j an indulgence
which, notwithftanding all the fervices rendered by the
king of Portugal to the maritime powers in the preceding
war, v/as in very rough terms abfolutely refufed S
SECT. XVII.
Nature and Confemwues of the Clove Trade, and the
Manner in which it has been tranjlated to Amhoyna
from the Proper Moluccas, and the Motives which
induced the Company to take this Method, as the
mojl effetiual for prefcrving this valuable Branch of
Trade,
AmUyna 'T^HE fecond government is that of Amboyna, one of the
itiefecond ^ Moluccas. This illand was formerly the feat of the
^o'vern- governor-general, before the building of Batavia, and was
^he^Dutch ^'^ ^^^^^^'^'^^ ^^ that city on account of its advantageous fitua-
kajl India tion in the midft of all the company's fettlements ; whereas
Company, Amboyna lies too far to the eaft. This ifland, however, is
one of the largeil of the Moluccas. It is fituated in the ar-
chipelago of St. Lazarus, between the 3d and 4th deg. of
fouth latitude, 14^ degrees of longitude from the Canary
Iflands, and one hundred and twenty leagues to the eaft-
ward of Batavia. The fort here was taken from the Por-
tuguefe by tie Dutch, in 1605 ; but they did not render
themfelves entirely mafters of Amboyna, and the adjacent
countries, till the year 1627, when they had cleared them-
felves of the Englilh alfo (F). This conquell put the clove
trade
' « Memoires de Lamberti.
(F) The iflands that are in in rccility, the Iflands which are
the neighbourhood of Aniboy- under the Dutch governor of
na, and are dilHnguifl^cd by Amboyna are ten, taking In the
particular names, are fcven ; extent of about 5 degrees of
namely, Oma, Uleafter, NolT- longitude, that of Amboyna
law, Onime, Maflalon, Mu- being farthefl: to the fouth ; we
lana, and Odava, according to fliall give the names of thefe
fome memoirs, >vhich is the likewife In their order. i.Ce-
reafon that we have placed ram, which is the largeft ia
theni here in a note. But, the vvhoje government, indeed
larger
the Dutch in the Eaft Indies,
trade wholly into their hands \ whence the Moluccas are
ftyled the gold mine of the company ; and fo they have
proved, if we confider the profit they draw from them, and
how little fear there is of their being ever exhaufted ". In
order to convince the reader of this, we need only obferve,
that a pound weight of nutmegs, or of cloves, cofts the
company not much above a half-penny, and every body
knows at what rate they are fold in Europe.
« Argenfola, NieuhofF, Schouten, Hamilton, Du Bois. •
71
larger than all the reft, taking
Amboyna into the number,
2. Ceram-Lavut, a fmall illand
four leagues to the eaft of the
former. 3. Bouro, the largeft
next to Ceram, and which lies
weft of all the reft. 4. Am-
blau, which is the fmalleft, and
three leagues from Bouro. 5.
Manipa, between Bouro and
Cerem. 6. Kelang, two leagues
to the north eaft of Manipa,
7. Bonoa, ftlU farther north,
8. Orna, lying eaft from Am-
boyna, at the diftance of two
leagues. 9. Honimoa, aleague
to the eaft of Orna. 10. Nouf-
fa-Laout, a league fouth-eaft
from the laft mentioned ifland
(2). Thefe three iflands, Or-
na, Honimoa, and Noufla-
Laout, are ftyled altogether
Uliaffers, which was formerly
miftaken by French writers for
the name of a particular ifland.
It is in Amboyna, and in thefe
three iflands only, that cloves
are now cultivated ; whereas
formerly they grew in all the
iflands, more efpecially in Ce-
ram. Thefe are the iflands
the circuit of which the gover-
nor of Amboyna makes once in
three years, in order to fee that
the company's injuncSlions are
complied with, and that no
cloves are fuffered to grow (3).
The ifland of Amboyna Is di-
vided into two parts, that is, a
lefTer and a greater peninfula.
The former is called Hitou,
twelve leagues in length, and
two and a half broad : in this
the Dutch have no lefs than five
forts, or rather ftrong redoubts,
mounted with cannon ; the
other is called Leytimor, five
leagues in length, and one and
a half broad, which is the
fouthern part of the iiland ; on
this ftands the fort of Victoria,
which is the refidence of the
governor and his council, com-
pofed of fifteen gentlemen, or
merchants. 7he inhabitants
of Amboyna are computed at
feventy or eighty thoufand, of
which but a fmall number are
Dutch ; and this confideration
obliges them to be continually
upon their guard, and to keep
a competent number of troops
in each of their forts, particu-
larly in that of Mlddleburgh,
which ftands upon the ifthmus
that conneds thefe peninfulas.
There are alfo redoubts and
garrifons in all the other iflands
of this government.
(4) MeraoIresdeDr. Garcln. (3) I^'Expedition de trois
Dl(51I6naire de Comtr.erce, vol. ii«
Vaifleaux, vol. ii, p
col. S05,
F4
the
7^ Conquefts, Settlements^ mid Difcoveries of
7lie man- The ifland of Amboyna is the centre of this rich com-
ner in merce ; and, to keep it more efFecStually in h^r hands, the
ivhkh company takes care to have all the clove-trees in the adja-
^^°'^f'^y cent ifland grubbed up and deftroyed ; and fometimes,
colleSIed' when the harveft is very large in Amboyna, part of the pro*
and curedy duce there is burnt likcM^ife. A few days after the fruit is
in Amboy- gathered from the tree, they coUcA the cloves together, and
^^' dry them before the fire on hurdles, by which m.eans they
lofe the beautiful red colour they derive from nature, and
change into a deep purple, or rather black, which is per-
haps occafioned by their being fprinkled with water. It is
pretended that this fprinkling is neceflary to hinder the
worm from getting into the fruit ; but it is thought a bet-
ter reafon may be afligned for it, Vv^hich is, adding weight
to the cloves w.
The cloves are gathered very carefully with the' hand ;
and if, by chance, any of the twigs are broken, it is no
fmall prejudice to the tree. It has been faidby forae, that
cloves are gathered but once in feveral years ; by others,
that they are gathered feveral times in one year. 3oth af-
fertions may be true, if fpoken of different places, and in
different periods of time 5 at prefent there is but one great
harvefl, which is between the middle of October and the
middle of December, fometimes fooner, fometimes later,
according as the fruit comes to its maturity. Some years
the produce is four, five, or fix times, as much as in
others ; but taking it at a medium, for feven years, it
may be well fixed at a million of pounds •, and it is com-
puted, that, one with another, this is four pounds from
every bearing tree.
Thejlreagth As to the force the company has in Amboyna, it con-
of the com- fifts in the garrifon in their great fort, which is very
fanyinAm- numerous, feldom lefs than fix hundred, compofed of
ihadM- ^^^"^ ^^^ troops, and kept conflantly in excellent order.
iional ad- The fort itfelf, called Victoria, is fo ftrong from art and
tvanta^esof nature, that it is in a manner impregnable ; and fo effec-
''/vl ^^^' ^"^^^7 commands the harbour, that it is impoffible for a
piifiment, yg|pg| ^^ ^^ -^^ ^^ q^I- -without being funk by the cannon of
the fort, if the governor give orders for that purpofe. One
would imagine, that fo rich a commerce as that of cloves
might be a fufficient return for the expence the company
is at about this ifland. But fuch is their care to improve
every thing to the utmofl advantage, that of late years they
w Memojres de Dr. Garcin, L'Jpxpedition de trois Vaifleaux,
torn. ii. p. i45» 146, 147.
have
the Dutch in the Eaft Indies, 73
have caufed cofFee to be planted, which is like to turn to
great account ^. Under the government of Mr. Barnard,
however, there was a difcovery made of a commodity
flill more valuable than cofFee or cloves ; for, through his
vigilance;, it was found that in fome of the mountains con-
fiderabie quantities of gold-dufl were wafhed down by the
torrents ; and this difcovery he purfued with fuch effe<St,
as at lafl to find out the mine ; fo that the wealth of thefe
Indian countries is ever increafing when in the hands of
thofe who know how to make the belt ufe of every thing i'.
There is a kind of red wood in this ifland, that, befide
the beauty of its colour, is exceedingly firm and durable ;
and naturally embeUiihed in its grain with abundance of
beautiful figures. Of this wood they make tables, cabinets,
efcritoires, and other pieces of furniture, for the princi-
pal perfons in the government, and the reft is fold all
over the Indies at a very extravagant rate ; fo that this
article is to be added to thofe already mentioned, of the
riches in Amboyna *.
SECT. XVIII.
The Government of the IJlands of Banda^ State of the
Nutmeg Trade, Precautions taken to fecure the Mo-
nopoly of Spices in the Indies, as well as in Europe ;
how far this hath hitherto Jucceeded, »
'TTHE next government is that of the illes of Banda, Ofthepo^
•* which are in number fix, lying in the latitude of njemmtnt
iif degrees 30 minutes fouth, and at the diftance of of Banda,
about four hundred and fifty leagues from Batavia. The ^^'^^jj^j
firft of thefe was called by its inhabitants Bandan j but, pendent on
when the Dutch went thither, they eftablifhed their thegoiern^
factory at a place they called Lonthor ; and though that m.nt,
be long ago deftroyed, yet the ifland bears its name ftill,
is the largeft of the ifles of Banda, and produces moft
nutmegs ^. The ifland of Neira is next in fize, where the
Dutch have two forts, that of Naflau, which commands
the narrow ftrait between this ifland and Lonthor ; and
the other Belgica, on the top of a hill in the midft of the
X piaionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 885, 886. y L'Ex-
pedition de trois Vaifieaux, torn. ii. p. 152. 2; Di6tionaiie cie
Commerce, torn. ii. col. 887. a Memoires fur le Commerce
des Hollandois, p. 190, 191,
ifland
74 Conquejls^ Settlements^ and D'lfcovertes of
ifland. The governor commonly refides in this iiland,
and for the mod part, in Fort NaiTau. Gounong-api,
that is to fay> the mountain of fire ^ in the Malayan lan-
guage, lies to the well of Neira, with a very narrow
chanel between them. It derives this name from a large
burning hill, which throws out from time^to time vaft quan-
tities of afhes, and has thereby corrupted not only the air
of that ifiand, but of all in its neighbourhood, to fuch a de-
gree, that fcarce any will inhabit them that are at full
liberty, and have it in their power, to fubfift any-where
elfe ^. Poulo-ay is a fmall ifland to the weft of the three
former j but the foji and climate is better than any of
them ; and in it the company has a good fort. Poulo-
rhon is that ifland about which they have had fo many
difputes with the crown of England, under the name of
Poleron ; and perhaps it may not be amifs to obferve,
. that the word Paulo, in the Malayan language, fignifies
tin ifland^. This, of which we are fpeaking, is very fmall,
barren, and almoft deflitute of inhabitants : and this de-
fcription may likewife ferve for the remaining ifland of
Roflngein ; fo that they are no otherwife confiderable
' than by their fituation, which has induced the Dutch to
ere<St a blockhoufe on each of them, where they keep a
ferjeant's guard, in order to prevent the itw miferable
inhabitants there, from having any intercourfe with their
neighbours or firangers ''.
Thenaiure This is a true and fair reprefentation of the ftate of
culture^ thefe iflands at this day ; notwithftanding which they are
ttnd ad' of infinite confequence to the Dutch, and not inferior in
n^anta^esy yalue to Amboyna, into Vv-hich, through policy, they have
thevtlan' crouded all the w^ealth of the Moluccas. This value arifes
iofions in from the important commerce in nutmegs, which grow
ihe/e yies* there in fuch prodigious quantities, as to enable the Dutch
to fupply all the markets in Europe ^. The tree which
produces this excellent fruit, in fize much refembles a
pear-tree ; but its leaves are like thofe of a peach, except
that they are larger. The nutmeg, when ripe, is pretty
near the fize of a walnut •, and is covered with two Ikins,
or Ihells, the firft is very tough, and of the thicknefs of a
man's finger, which falls off of itfelf as the fruit ripens,
"When it is candied, it has a very fine tafte. The fecond
b LTxpedition de trois VaifTeaux, torn. ii. p. 158, 159. c H>-
' (loire de la Conquete des Ifies Moluques, torn. iii. p. 174, 277*
278, 279. <• Diftionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 877, 87S,
*Memoires fur le Commerce des Hoilandois, p. 191, 15?,
the Butch in the Eaft Indies. 75
is of a red colour, and has a very odoriferous fmell. On
the opening of this, the fruit appears with a little flower
at the top, which is very beautiful, and in its form re-
fembles the lily of the valley. 7'hey gather the nuts, and
dry them ; but, in the firft place, they are thrown into
quick lime, for otherwife worms would breed in and de-
itroy them ^
There are, befides thofe above mentioned, feveral iflands ^aji pains
in the neighbourhood of Banda, in which nutmegs would iaken by
grow, if the company did not take care to have them de- '^'^ compa-
Itroyed every year \ a circumftance which at firll fight ^{p^gJgZ
may feem extraordinary, fmce one would imagine, that t/ig propa-
their being thoroughly rooted out once might prevent gating
their growing again. But this difficulty is eafily folved, nutmegs
when it is known that the birds carry them annually into ^A'^^'^'"^*
all thefe iflands, whence the Dutch ftyle them properly
enough the gardeners of the fpice-trees s. It is not agreed
how this is performed by them. Mr. Tavernier tells us,
that the nutmeg being ripe, feveral birds come from the
iflands towards the fouth, and devour it whole, but are
forced to throw it up again before it be digefted. That
the nutmeg, then befmeared with a vifcous matter, fall-
ing to the ground, takes root, and produces a tree, which
would never thrive if it was otherwife planted. Mr. The-
venot again informs us, that the tree is produced after this
manner ^ : there are, fays he, a kind of birds in the ifland,
that, having picked off the green huflc, fwallow the nuts,
which, having been fome time in their flomach, they void
by the ordinary way •, and they fail not to take root in the
place where they fall, and in time grow up to a tree ' (G).
In a long feries of time the fervants of the company ^yj^ jnan-
have difcovered the beft method of cultivating and im- ner of the
proving nutmegs, which'we fhall prefent to the reader's ^«'^^
view as concifelv as it is poffible. They grow now only P^°"^^l'°*^'
in the three firft iflands j and, being very tender and y„ (jefcrit'
f Memoires de Dr. Garcln. Z L'Expedition de trois Vaifle-
aux, torn. ii. p. 155. '^ Voyage des Indes Orientales, vol. v,
p. 329. i Sir Thomas Pope Blount's Natural Hiftory, p. 43,
(G) There are in the iflands wild trees over all thefe iflands,
of Banda, and at Amboyna, which the company oblige the
feveral forts of birds, but more inhabitants to pull up and de-
efpecially a kind of turtle-doves fl:roy ; and the birds alfo have
or pigeons, that, by fwallow- no quarter given them in the
ing cloves and nutmegs, and plantations.
'voiding them again, propagate
delicats
^6 Conquejls^ Settlements^ and Difcoverles of
delicate, are planted in parks, fome larger, fome lefs.
Thefe are fo called, not becaufe of their being inclofed by-
walls or paliifades, but from their being fenced with other
trees, taller and Itouter than the nutmeg, in order to
cover and proteft the plantation from the winds to which
thofe iflands are fubjeft. In thefe parks a great many
ilaves are conftantly employed in weeding and keeping the
ground clear, and in picking up the fruit that falls of itfelf,
which is commonly the moft perfeft and valuable. The
great harveft is in the months of June and Augutt, which
being the rainy feafon in thofe countries, accompanied
alfo with ftrong gufts of wind, is frequently attended with
great difafhers, fuch as beating down and bruifing the fruit
green and ripe, before it can be gathered. This, how-
ever, is not loft, but is preferved in fugar, and becomes,
either wet or dry, an excellent fweetmeat.
Account of 3n the month of November there is a kind of latter
the nutmeg harveft, or gleaning, coniifting only of fuch fruit ^s was
har^ejist \q{^ ^q ripen; but in the month of April they vifit the trees
^"ttebatthe ^S^^" » ^"*^> though the nutmegs gathered at this time be
produce very few, yet they are by far the fineft, as the fruk at
and<value that time hangs but thin, and has not been expofed to any
ofthh bad weather. One year with another, it is computed that
Jp^^^* in thefe three iflands there grow eight hundred thoufand
pounds weight of nutmegs ; and, if the common opinion
be right, about a fourth part of the fame quantity of mace,
in the following proportions : the ifland of Lonthor pro-
daces fix hundred thoufand ; the ifland of Neira eighty
thoufand ; the ifland of Poulo-ay one hundred and twenty
thoufand : the flaves that are employed in attending the
trees, and curing the fruit, are between two and three
thoufand''. There is a wild nutmeg, as well as wild
cinnamon and wild cloves, but of very little value, and
eafily diftinguiflied from the genuine fpice, which is long
like a fmall t^^. Wild nutmegs are very feldom, if ever,
brought into Europe, becaufe they will not keep, the
worm breeding in them, either from their natural moifture>
or from their not being treated in a proper manner at their
being firll gathered, in which it is faid fome niceties are
obferved, that the company's fervants keep very fecret.
It is allowed, that, when ripe, the tafte of this fruit, that
is to fay, of the pulp between the two outer coats, is harfh,
rough, hot, and, upon the whole, difagreeable ; and yet
nothing more pleafant, when either pickled or candied.
^ Diilionaire de Commerce, torn, ii. col, 877, S78.
There
the Dutch in the Eajl Indies. 77
There are, among the inhabitants of this ifland, a fort of
burgefles, who have the fole right to keep parks for the
cultivation of nutmegs, for which they receive a very-
moderate, gratification, and yet live at their cafe. There
grows here, as well as at Amboyna, a fort of tree called
calliputte, from whence they draw a v,ery rich and falu-
tary oil, which is fold at a very high price K
The caftles and blockhoufes in the iflands of Banda are State of the
exceedingly well fortified ; yet, to prevent any accident ^uuhjorts
that might happen in cafe an enemy fhould enter the port ^^"^ 5« mV
under Dutch colours, there is always a fquadron of fmall ^jiands of
veflels plying round the coaft, which, upon the firft ap- Banda.
pearance of a ftrange fhip, immediately furround and ex-
amine whence fhe comes, whither bound, and of what
llrength. The garrifon is numerous, but in a much
worfe condition than any other in the company's fervice ;
a circumftance w^hich arifes from the want of victuals, the
iflands being in general of a barren, fandy foil, producing
very little food of any fort, which is the reafon that the
foldiers eat cats, dogs, and any other animal that come to
hand "". The reft of their provifions is tortoife, of which
they have a reafonable plenty for about fix months in the
year. They make their bread of the juice of a tree, which
refembles, when firft drawn, the grounds of beer, but,
when dried, it grows as hard as a ftone ; yet, when put
into water, it fwells and ferments, and fo becomes fit to
eat, that is, in a country where there is nothing elfe. As
for butter, rice, dried fi(h, and other eatables, they are
all fent thither from Batavia, and come much too dear for
the foldiers to have any plenty of them. To fpeak the
truth, as the inhabitant are none of the happieft, fo they
may be faid to live full as well as they deferve, fince there
hardly ever was an honeft man upon thefe iflands °.
The natives were fuch a race of cruel, perfidious, and Peculiar
untraftable people, that the company was forced to root misfortune
them out for their own fecurity, and to fend a Dutch co- of thefe
lony into the iflands ; but then it is fuch a colony as hath y^^"'^^^^. '
not much mended the matter, compofed entirely of a habited by
worthlefs rafcally people, that not being able to live any the -worji
where elfe, were content to come, or were otherwife fen- cfmen.
tenced to be fent to ftarve here. . Their mifery, however,
is of no long date j for in a very fhort time they are de-
I L'Expedition de trois Vaifleaux, torn. ii. p. 156. "i Hamil-
ton's Account of the PJaft Indies, vol. ii. p. 143. n L'Expedi-
tjoa de trois Vailieaux, tora. ii. p, J 5 7, 158,'
ftroyed
7 8 Conquefts, Settlements^ and Blfcoverles of
ftroyed by the dry gripes, or twifting of the guts, which
is the epidemic diftemper of the country. It is for this
reafon, and becaufe wild young fellows are fometimes
fent thither by their relations, that the Dutch at Batavia,
generally fpeaking, call Lonthor, or Bandan, the Ifland
of Corredion °. The only people who live tolerably there
are the negroes, who were fettled in it before the Dutch
conqueft, and have lived quietly ever fince in their moun-
tains. Some of the lateft accounts from this part of the
world inform us, that the company have begun to make
trials in Amboyna, whether nutmegs might not be culti-
vated there to a degree of perfection, with a defign, it is
believed, of transferring that fpice thither entirely, x as
, they have done the clove, as the eruptions of the volcano
before mentioned become more and more frequent, and
confequently the climate of the ifles of Banda grows worfe
' and worfe p.
SECT.* XIX.
Account of the two great Governments ; of Macaffar In
the If and of Celebes, and of the Molucca Ijlands, out
of which the Cloves are extirpated, though in niojl
geographical Befcriptions thefe are ft ill called the Spice
IJlands.
fortrefof Tf ^ ^ city and fortrefs of Macaffar, In the ifland of
Macajfar^ Celebes, is confidered as the fourth government in
thefourtti the Eaft India company's difpofal. That ifland lies be-
go'vern- tween Borneo and the Moluccas, at the di Ranee of about
ment in the ^^^ hundred and fixty leagues from Batavia. Its form is
dmmions* ^'^ '^ manner circular, and its diameter about one hundred
and thirty leagues. It is called, and with great reafon,
the key of the fpice iflands. The form of government
here is pretty much the fame as in the other iflands.
Since the time the Dutch drove out the Portuguefe, they
have taken care to fortify themfelves efle£luaily on the
fea-coall, and have always a very numerous garrifon in
the fort of MacaiTar, where the governor refides ; which
is fo much the more neceflary, as this ifland is very po-
pulous, and the people are beyond comparifon the braveft
and belt foldiers in the Eaft Indies. This nation, as we
have already fhewn, for a long time, gave the Dutch in-
Memoire fur le Commerce des Hollandois, p. 191, P Dic-
tionaue de Commerce, tom.ii. col. 88.
exprefllble
the Butch in the Eajl Indies, 79
expreiTible trouble;^ and rendered their commerce very
precarious. Yet at lail they were totally fubdued ; and,
in confequence of the meafures taken fince the lafl treaty,
l^and at prefent as much in fear of the company, as any
other nation in that part of the world. The expence,
however, of maintaining the troops, and the other charges
of the government are fo large, that, till very lately, the
company were no great gainers by their conquefts, though
the flave-tra.de here is very beneficial^. The reafon
that induced the company to lay out fuqh large fums to
polTefs themfelves of this ifland, was, in order to render
it a bulwark to the Moluccas ; for, before the lail war of
Macaflar, which ended in the complete ruin of the power
of the prince of that country, he found means to procure
great quantities of mace, nutmegs, and cloves, which he
fold to the Englilh and other nations.
The ifland is very fruitful, efpeclally in rice, which is hnportance
a commodity of great value in the Indies. The inhabitants oj ihn part
are of a middle ftature, of a yellow complexion, but good ^f^^^^V^'^'^
features, and are extremely briik: and adive. They are ^-^
faid to be naturally thieves, traitors, and murderers ; and
that to fuch a degree, that it is not fafe for any Chriflian
to venture, after it is dark, without the wall of the Dutch
forts, or to travel at any time far into the country, for
fear of being robbed and murdered. Yet there live under
the protection of the Dutch forts abundance of the na-
tives, who are free burgefl^es, and carry on a confiderablc
trade, as do alfo the Chinefe, who fail from hence in their
own veflfels into all the ports of the company's dominions,
deriving immenfe wealth from their extenfive commerce,
which they manage with a dexterity pecuHar to themfelves.
The inland country is under the dominion of three difl^erent
monarchs, who, very happily for the company, are con-
tinually at variance; and if it were not for this, they
might at any time drive the Dutch out of the ifland ^
One of thefe princes is alfo ftyled the company's king, a confiJer-
becaufe he lives in a good correfpondence with them, and able gold
promotes their interefl as far as lies in his power. They ^^"^ '^^/"
make him from time prefents of gold chains, coronets of ^''^^Z ,/,^
gold fet with precious ftones, and other things of value, Dutch^
in order to keep him fteady to his alliance, and prevent
his inclining to an accommodation with the other two mo-
iiarchs, which might be attended with confequences very
s Memoires fur le Commerce des Ilollandois, p. 195, ^ L'Ex-
peditionde trois Vaifleaux, torn. ii. p. i6z, 163,
fatal
Zo Conquefis, Settlements^ and Difcovertes, of
fatal to their power and commerce*. About the year
1720 there happened an extraordinary event, which it
was thought would have given a great turn to the com-
pany's affairs, and this was, the difcovery of a rich gold
mine, conceived then to be of fuch great confequence,
that not only a great number of workmen, but a dire£lor,
; was alfo fent from Batavia to carry on the work. How
far this has been attended with fuccefs we are not able to
fay, and perhaps it is a fecret that never will be known in
its full extent, fmce it is a maxim with the Dutch Eaft
India company never to boall of her power or richcvS, but
rather to leiTen both in the reprefentations fhe makes from
time to time to the States General.
Of th f/i/i The fifth of the company's grdat governments is that of
of the com- the Moluccas, or, as it is generally called, from the go-
pany^s go- ygj-nor's refidence in that ifland, the government of Ter-
*viz. that * J^3te. This very ifland, which makes now but a part of
of the Mo' a f^ngle government, bellowed by the directors of a trad-
luccas» ing company, was once miftrefs of many nations ; and its
monarch boafled of having feventy-two, or, as others
afhrm, ninety-two, tributary princes, who were at the
fame time, fovereigns of as many iflands ^ There is ftill
a king, who has the honour to be ftyled the chief ally,
which is only a civil expreflion for the firft fubjecl of the
Dutch Eaft India company. It is true that the force of
this ifland was in fome meafure exhaufted before the
Dutch arrived in thefe' parts ; firfl, by the revolt of fe-
veral of thofe tributary princes, and afterwards by the
long and bloody wars they maintainedr againft the Portu-
guefe, who fometimes held them in fubjeilion. Neither
did they tamely fubmit to the Dutch company, but de-
fended themfelves as well and as long as they could, till,
by a conjuncSlion of arts and arms, or, in plainer Englifh,
by force in fome meafure, and in fome meafure by fraud,
they were compelled to fubmit, and by the treaty of 1638,
engaged to have no commerce with any other nation, nor
even with any Dutch fiiips that did not come with a pafl>-
port from the governor and council of Batavia ".
^hefi^ange But it is not only the power of the king, and the condi-
(ilttratwn tion of his fubjecls, but the very Hate of the country, that
that has jg altered, and that in the higheft degree. We have {ten
mUf.la ^" ^^^ foregoing f^dipns, that the Moluccas, itridly
to iheje ^^ ^ \
cKct rich s Di6>ionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 873. tHifloire
(iKd celc' de la Conquete des Ifles Moluques, torn. iii. p. 20. " Dic-
iiiaied tionaire de Commerce, torn, ii, p. 876,
taken
inarniu
the Dutch in the Eaji Indies. 8 1
taken, that is, the five iflands of Ternate, Tydore, Ba-
chian, Motirj and Makian, which are precifely the places
within the extent of this government; were the great ob-
je6ls of the Portuguefe ambition, when they began to
€re6l their empire in the Eaft. We have feen what a high
difpute was raifed about them between the crowns of Spain
and Portugal ; we have feen what prodigious efforts the
united forces of thofe two crowns made to preferve them
from the Dutch ; and we have aifo feen with what pains,
with what expence, with what danger, and with what
difficulty, the Dutch carried their point at laft, fo as to
become abfolute mafters of them ^. Let us now enquire
to what end ? Thefe five little iflands were eiteemed the
moft valuable pofleffion in the world, becaufe in them,
and in them only, grew cloves ; but after the Dutch had
poflefled them about twenty-fix years, they conceived it
for their intereft that cloves fhould grow no longer there.
Accordingly, by a treaty made in 1638, with the king of
Ternate, and the other petty princes, they flipulated that
all that kind of fpice fhould be extirpated in every one of
the iflands, and not a clove-tree permitted ever to raife its
head in one of them again. This treaty has been re*
newed twice fince, and, in confideration of annual pen-
fions granted to the king and to the nobility of Ternate,
and to the refi; of the princes, whidi, after being twice
augmented, do not amount, in the whole, to three thou-
fand pounds flierling \ This article is very punctually
performed •, for the company's farther fecurity in this par-
ticular, they maintain three flrong forts, viz. Orange, Hol-
land, and WilHamfliadt, with good garrifons, in theifland
Ternate, and eight or nine more in tlie reft of the iflands,
where they vend a kind of cloth from the coaft of Guinea,
which brings them back mofl: part, if not all their money ;
and, with other merchandize of fmall value, purchafe
rice and tortoife-fhell, the only commodities that are now
to be met with in the Moluccas.
w Argenfola Conquifta de las Iflas Malucas. ^ Memoires de
•Dr. Garcin. L*Expedition de trois Vaifleaux, torn. ii. p. 2a.
Mod. Vol. IX. V/; Gvvj) • SECT.
^2 ConqueflSf SettkmentSy and Difcoverles of
SECT. XX.
fhe Government of the Cape of Good Hope. Detail of
the vajt Improvements made there ; and a brief View
of the prefent Condition of the Hottentots^ their Sub-
je5fs, 'The Method of the Company's Fleets touching
herey and other curious Particulars,
Of the ^T^ H E fixth government beflowed by the company in
^^Vh *^^ Indies is that of the Cape of Good Hope. The
the Hxth g^^'^^'^^ior is always one of the counfellors of the Indies^
govern' ^^^ bas hkewife a council to affift him in the adminiflra-
ment in the tion of aiFalrs, as the reft of the governors have. The
Baji India Cape is fituated on the coaft of Caffres, and is the moft
company s fouthern point of the continent of Africa : in the year
1653 ^^ ^"^^ taken from the Portuguefe by the Dutch. It
is juftly efteemed one of the moft important places in the
hands of the company, though it is certain that the profits
they draw from it are not comparable to thofe arifing from
fome of the iflands in the Eaft Indies ; and formerly
things were in a worfe fituation, the revenues from that
Settlement falling fhort of its expence y. Yet it would be
impoffible to carry on their trade to the Eaft Indies, if
they v/ere not poflefTed of this place *, becaufe at the Cape,
and only at the Cape, they can meet with frefh water and
other refrefliments, in their outward and homeward-bound
voyages, which are abfolutelyrequlfite, efpecially for fuch
as are eaten up with the fcurvy, who feldom fail to be re-
covered by the helps they meet with here.
*the fVGji There is fuch an abundance of all forts of provifions at
abundance the Cape, that, notwithftanding the vaft annual demand
ofpro'vi- y^Q^ by homeward and outward-bound ftiips of all nations,
Capei never any fcarcity arifes, but all fliips meet with the fuc-
coursthey expert at a moderate rate. In order to have a
juft notion of the great importance of this place, it will
be proper to obferve, that in the fpace of a year, at leaft
forty outward-bound fhips touch there from Holland
alone, and in thefe there cannot be lefs than eight or nine
thoufand people ^ The homeward-bound fiiips from the
Indies cannot be fewer, in the fpace of a year, than
thirty-fix, and on board thefe there are ufually three thou-
T. Kolben, Defcrintion Hu Cap de Bon Efperance, torn i. p.
17. ai, as. » Diitionaire de Connr.erce, tcm. ii. coil- (>-]%.
fand
the Butch in the Eaft Indies. 8^
fand fouls *, not to fpeak of foreign veflels that like wife
put in here, and have alfo all kinds of refrefhments. This
circumftance muft appear very furprifing when one con-
fiders what vaft quantities fuch numerous fleets muil re-
quire ; but this Is not all ; thefe fhips do not enter the port
and fail again direftly, but continue there for fome time,
infomuch, that there are always fliips in the road, except
in the months of May, June, and July, when it is dan-
gerous on account of the north-welt wind, that blows
with the utmoft violence during thefe three months *.
This country had not only been reje6led both by the For- Abandoned
tuguefe and the Englifh, as not worth the pains of keeping, h ^"^ ^^'t
but was adtually fifty years in the hands of the Dutch be- £^"jl^^
fore they judged it capable of any improvements ^ That and long
they changed their fentiments in this refpe6t, and of a negle^edby
wild and wafbe defert, rendered it the faireft, fineft, and *f^^ Dutch,
fruitfulleft fpot upon the globe, was entirely owing to the
judicious forefight of a private man, and to the ready ac-
ceptance his projeft met with from the company's direc-
tors. The name of this extraordinary perfon was Mr. Van
Riebeeck, a furgeon on board one of their fliips ; who,
being fome time on {hore, conceived in his mind the plan
of almoft all that has been fince executed ^.
In his paflage home he digefled his thoughts in writing, The whole
and having laid his fcheme before the directors, they not fettlement
only approved it, but fitted out immediately a fquadron of ^^f^^y ^'^^
four fail of large fhips, laden with every thing requifite V^j^jj^l"'
for putting it in execution, giving the fole command of it due to the
to M. Van Riebeeck, with inftru6lions drawn from his own fagacity of
papers. This man laid the bafis of his new eftablifhment Mr. Van
in equity ; he purchafed the country he refolved to fettle '^^^^^^^*»
from the natives, and gave them for it fuch goods as they
chofe, to the amount of fifty thoufand florins : he did not
oblige them to remove, nor did he put the leaft conftraint
upon their freedom. When they were difpofed to work,
he paid them ; when they were Tick, he relieved them. As
they had not the ufe of letters, there could be no written
agreement between them ; he took no advantage of this
circumftance : he performed his promifes punctually, by
which the Hottentots came to have a confidence in the
Dutch ^, It quickly appeared that his notions v/ere per-
a L'Expedition de trois Vaiflcaux, torn. ii. p. 169, 170, 171,
b Di6lionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 674. c p. Kolben,
Defcription du Cap de Bon Efperance, torn. i. p. 23. dDic-
tionaire de Coramerce, torn. ii. col. 673,
G 2 feaiy
84 CorjquefiS) Settlements, and Bifcoverles of
fe£lly well founded, and that the country Was every way
capable of improvement ; but as all things neceflary for
that purpofe vi^ere to be brought from Europe, thefe im-
provements could not be made but at a vaft expence, from
which however there could not be expe£led any imme-
diate return. The com.pany comprehended prefently the
importance of the defign, and chearfully furnifhed at the
'rate of a million per annum for twenty years ; that is, in
plain Englifh, they fpent two millions fterling to make
this country and colony what they are ^, In this parti-
cular, beyond all doubt, they afted a wife and great part,
■worthy not only of praife and imitation, but of that pro-
digious fuccefs with which Providence has beenpleafed to
blefs their prudence and perfeverance.
Bay at the The bay is very fine and large, of an oval form, and
Cape ex- entering two or three leagues within land 5 about nine
teedtngljf miles in circuit, and is capable of holding one hundred
admirablv ^^^^ ^^ l^i^gQ ihips very commodioufly ; yet it muft be
fecuredy allowed, that the anchorage is not every where alike
and 'won- good, and near the fhore there is fome danger. The
derfullyad' middle of this bay is commanded by a very flrong fort,
vantage- ^j^jj.^ \^ j^ regular pentagon, each baftion mounted with
twenty pieces of heavy cannon. The fort and the town
are both fituated on the edge of a plain, three leagues in
extent, at the bottom of three very high mountains;
the firft is ftyled the Lion Mountain, becaufe it has a re-
femblance of a lion couching upon his belly j the next is
the Table Mountain,, which is much higher, fo that in a
clear day it may be feen tjventy leagues ; the third is
called the Devil's Mountain, and is not fo remarkable as
either of the former. The houfes of which this town is
compofed are very neat, yet not above two ftories high,
becaufe of the furious fouth-eaft winds that fometimes
blow here. The people who dwell at the Cape, and on
the coaft, are for the moft part Chriftlans, and are ftyled
Africans ; thofe who inhabit the country farther within
land are called peafants. They are all of them either
•Eiirdpeans, or defcended from Europeans.
State of the There are fome fettled three hundred leagues from the
intand coaft : notwithftanding which diftance, they are obliged
f!^"^/^'cmx:ea year to appear at a place called Stellenbech, that
iionti and J rr , r ^ r n .i.
fi/fuch as "ley may pais m review •, for the peaiants, as v/ell as the
in this townfmen, are formed into companies commanded by
country the
Dutch fiyle e p. Kolben, Defcriptioa du Cap de Bon Eiperance, torn. i. ip.
ieafants. ^^^ jg^ 25.
proper
tie Dutch in the Eafl Indies, 85
proper ofEcers. After th^ review, they return to their
refpeclive dwellings, and generally carry home fuch tools
as they have occafion for in their country work. Thefe
people cultivate their ground, and fow rye, barley, beans,
<kc. They likewife plant vines, which produce very fine
grapes, of which they make excellent wine. Some of
thefe peafants are in very happy circumftances, having,
befides large and well cultivated plantations, great quan-
tities of flieep and cattle. Amongft other colonies, there
is one at the diilance of eight leagues from the town,
•entirely compofed of French refugees, who have there
a large traiSl of country very well cultivated. The place
where they live is called Drachonltein, and they are
allowed churches and minifters of their own nation ^
Part of the inhabitarits of the town are in the fervice of
the company, and the reft are free burgefles. They have
their proper magiftratcs, who decide caufes of fmall con^
fequence, and regulate little difputes that happen amongft
them ; but as to matters of any importance, they are
carried before the governor and his council, who deter*
mine finally, and without appeal. In the flat country,
the droflard terminates all. difputes of fmall confequence;
but any thing of importance is always carried before the
governor and his council, by whom it is determined ;
and their fentences, in civil and criminal affairs, are
executed without delay. As for the military eftabhlh-
ment, it is exa£lly on the fame foot as at Batavia ; the
ofhcer who commands in chief has the rank and pay of a
major-general. The ofEcers under him are captains,
lieutenants, and enfigns, who take care to keep their
companies always complete, and well difciplined ; fo that,
in cafe of an attack, they <:an draw together at leaft five
thoufand men well armed •, and as good as any regular
troops ; ei^ery peafant knowing whither to repair, in or-
der to range himfelf under his proper ftandard.
The country round the town, at the Cape, is full of Afutchii
vineyards and gardens ; the company have two, which ^^^^«»' of
are perhaps the fineft in the world. One lies at the di-» fj^/'^"fY'*
ftance of two hundred paces from the fort, between the tants from
town and Table Mountain j it is about fourteen hundred hursp^^
paces in length, and tv/o Irandred thirty-five in breadth: ^n^ihedtf-
a fine rivulet from the mountain runs through the midft ^'^tries
of it; it is divided into quarters, and they cultivate '^^^^'^"'^«
^herein, with the utmofl fuccefs, the fruits and flowers
'^ P. Kolben Defcription du Cap de Bon Efperance, torn. ii. p. 5«,
G3 of
8^ Conquefts, Settlements, and Difcovertes of
of all the four parts of the world. The other^garden is
at the diftance of two leagues, in that which is called
the new country, and is likewife kept in the befl order
that can ht by the flaves of the company, which are fel-
dom lefs than five hundred s. The country thereabouts
is mountainous and flony; but the valleys very agreeable,
and exceedingly fertile. The climate is the bell in the
world, for cold and heat are never felt there in extremes ;
and the people live to great ages without difeafes^ which
are never known but when produced by intemperance.
The very mountains, befides contributing to the whol-
fomenefs of the place,, are fuppofed to be full of gold,
and other valuable metals : fome eflays have been made,
but as yet no mines have been difcovered in fuch a fitua-
tion as would permit the working of them to advantage.
A fhoit 'ihe native Africans confift of feven different nations,
«z;/fw of j^ij comprehended under the general name of Hottentots.
m natfons '^^^ ^""^^ °^ thefe, and the leaft confiderable, are with-
dijoelling in out a chief, live in the neighbourhood of the Cape, and
the neigh' are mod of them in the feryipe of the company, dwell
hour hood tf ^jj.}^ townfmen, or are employed by the peafants and
Jj "'^ farmers in cultivating their lands. The fecond inhabit
the mountains, or, to fpeak with greater propriety, live
in the caverns of the mountains. They are thieves by
profeffion, and draw their fubfiftence entirely from plun-
dering the peaceable Hottentos, with whom they are at
continual war. The third nation is called the Little
Macqua ; the fourth the Great Macqua \ the fifth the
Little Kricqua; the fixth the Great Kricqua. Thefe
words macqua and kricqua fignify king or chief. They
are conftantly engaged in war with each other •, but,
when any nation is in danger of being ruined, two or
three others immediately join them ; for the balance of
power is a maxim as well underftood and fupported by
the Hottentots as by the potentates in Europe ^,
^^^IfTf Part of thefe have fubrnitted, and are therefore ftyled
tenlois ° ' ^^ company's Hottentots. The Dutch fend annually
luho live about fifty or fixty perfons to trade with thefe people, who
under a purchafe their cattle, and give them in exchange arrack,
prince^ tobacco, hemp, and fuch feeds as they have occafion for,
'the com- ^^ which means a good underftanding is preferved. Thefe
panj.
« Journal du Voyage de Siam, par I'Abbe de Choify, p. 5?2.
L'Expedition de trois Vaifieaux, torn, ii- p. 234. h L'Expedition
de tiois Vaifleaux, torn. ii. p. 235. P. Kolben Defcription du Cap
de Bon Efperance, torn. i. p. 109.
Hot,
the Dutch in the Eajl Indies. 87
Hottentots of the company are very often attacked by tli<;
other nations ; and, when they find they are no longer
able to defend themfelves by their own force, the king
puts Iximfelf at the head of a fmall body of troops, an5
marches down to the Cape to demand affiftance. As foon ^
as he arrives, he goes to the governor, with the principal
people of his nation, holding the commanding ftaff in his
hand, given him by the company, and which has , their
arms upon it ; and, extending it towards the governor,
defires he would grant him fuccours. If the governor
^oes not think fit to yield to his requefl, but contents him-
felf with giving him good words, he, without more ado,
throws his flaff at the governor's feet, and tells him in
bad Dutch, " Voor myniet meer Compagnies Hottentot,"
that is. For me, I will be no more the Companfs HoUentot,
The governor, however, generally fends an efcort of
troops back with him : for it is the interefl of the com-
pany to be upon good terms with this fort of prince,
becaufe he is always ready to do whatever they defire
of him.
The feventh nation is that of the Caffres. Thefe are Some ae-
prop-riy the Anthropophagi, who have made fo much ^ountofth
noife in the world. The Hottentots are exceedingly afraid ^*#^'^» «
of them, and take all the care they can to keep-out of their ^J^ti^^*
way, for fear of being roafted or boiled if they fhould be and more
taken prifoners. This abominable nation would never en- barharpus
ter into any fort of commerce with the Chriftians ; but, J^^^ ^^'
on the contrary, take all the pains they can to entrap °^^^"^^^f*
them, in order to murder, and, as is generally believed,
to eat them. It is indeed reported of late years, they are
grown fomewhat more tradable, and entertain fome fort
of trade with thofe who will venture to have any dealings
with them. They are a very potent and warlike nation,
being all of them flrong well-made men ; and, though
their hair is curled and black, like that of other negroes,
yet they have better faces, and a much more m'4nly ap*-
pearance ' (H).
i Hamilton's Account of the Eaft Indies, torn, i. p. 5. L*Expe- .
'dition de trois Vaifleaux, tcin. ii. p. 240, 241.
(H) What is faid in the text for, after all, there is foT:ie rea-
of the Caifres is taken from the fon to doubt whether thefe
Dutch writers in general, wh > people are mei; eaters, or void
perhaps have given a little to of civility and virtue,
jmuch credit to the Hottentots ;
G4 SECT,
Conquejlsy Settlements, and Difcoverles of
SECT. XXL
fhe Government of the Fortrefs and Territory of Ma*
lacca, the la/i^ but not the leafl confiderable, of the
Companfs firft-rate Governments, The Difficulties
of reducing it, which fixed them in the Indies ; and
the great Importance of this Settlement, from its ad--
mirable Situation,
Of the city
and jor-
irefs of
Malacca^
the laji in
order of the
company's
go'uern-
tftents.
By ivhat
means it
came into
ihtir
hands.
'TTHE laft government is that of Malacca, which city is
•■' the capital of a fmall kingdom of the fame name, the
inhabitants of which are called Malayans. The governor
here is a merchant, and the eftablifliment much the fame
with thofe in the other governments. The kingdom of
Malacca makes the fouth part of the peninfula of India,
beyond the Ganges ; and is divided from the great ifland
of Sumatra by a ftreight, which bears the name of the
Streights of Malacca. The Dutch, after feveral attempts,
took this place from the Portuguefe, in 1641, and have
maintained themfelves in the polIeiTion of it ever fince. It
may not be amifs to defcribe the manner in which they ac-
quired this ftrong fortrefs. They were informed that great
difputes fubfilled between the garrifon and the king of Jo^
hore ; from whichr they immediately conceived hopes of
reducing it. With this view they fitted out from Batavia
a ftrong fleet, with a great body of land-forces on board ;
and at the fame time concluded an alliance with the king
of Johore. This prince, with twenty thoufand men, laid
fiege to the fort by land, while the Dutch diftrefled it by
fea ; and yet, for all that both the fleet and army could
do, they could not have taken it but by reducing them
through famine, which would have taken up a great deal
of time ; fo what they could not efl^d: by force they did by
fraud ^,
They heard that the Portuguefe governor was fordid and
avaricious, for which ill qualities he was much hated by
the garrifon ; the Dutch therefore tampered with him by
letters, promifing him mountains of gold if he would con-
tribute towards their reducing the fort. At length the
price was fet ; eighty thoufand pieces of eight were to be
the reward of his treachery, and he was to be fafely tranf-
k Hamilton's Account of the Eaft Indies, vol. ii. p. 76. Hif-
toire de la Conquete des Ifles Moluques, torn. iii. p. 317.
ported
the Butch in the Eajl Indies. 89
ported to Batavia in their fleet, and be made a free deni-
zen there. Upon this condition he gave fecret infirut-
tions to the Dutch to make an attack on the eaft fide of
the fort, and he would perform his part of the convention.
He lioxt called a council, and told the officers he had a
mind to circumvent the Dutch, by letting them come clofe
to the fort-walls ; and then to fire brrficly from all quar-
ters, and deftroy them at once. In confequence of this
intimation, the Dutch made their approaches without mo-
leftation, and placed their ladders K The garrifon fent
mefiage after melTage, to acquaint the governor of the dan^
ger they were in for want of orders to fire or fally on the
Dutch, as was agreed on in council ; but he delayed fo
long till the enemy got into the fort, and drove the guard
from che eaft gate, which they foon opened, to receive
the reft of their army ; who, as foon as they were enter-
ed, gave quarter to none that were in arms, marching di-
retlly towards the governor's houfe, where he thought
himfeif fecure by the treaty ; but they forthwith difpatched
him, to fave the eighty thoufand dollars.
The city is large, and drives a great trade in confequence The ad-
of its excellent fituation, which renders it the ftorehoufe '^^"t^ges
and magazine of all that part of India \ but there is one ^^J^^^ylf
great inconvenience at Malacca, and that is, the fcarcity of this fettle-
provifions; and even what little is to be had confifts only of menty as
different kinds of fifli. The inhabitants are of a dark com- theyjland
plexion ; a brifK:, cunning, aftive people, and great thieves. ^^P^J^^^'
Some of them are idolaters, but generally fpeaking they
are Mohammedans. The Portugaefe had no lefs than
three churches and a chapel within the fort, and one with-
out. That which the Dutch now ufe for their worfhip
ilands confpicuoully on the top of a hill, and may be feen
up or down the ftreights at a good diftance. A flag-ftaiF
is placed on the fteeple, on which a flag is hoifted on the
fight of any fhip "\ The fort is both large and ftrong ;
but the road is at too great a diftance for fhlps to be de-
fended by it, the fhallownefs of the fea obliging them to
lie above a league off. In 1709, the French, coming into
the ftreights with a fquadron of three or four fail, and
feeing a large fhip in the road from Japan, ftood in ; and
would haVe certainly carried her out, if the wind had not
failed them when but a mufket-fhot from her ". At Ma-
lacca the ftreights are not above four leagues broad ; for
• •
I Hamilton's Voyage to the Eaft Indies, torn. ii. p. 77, 7?«
^ pi61ionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 803. " Hamil-
ton's Account of the Eaft Indies, vol. ii. p. 79.
though
90
Jts convt'
nie»t and
important
Jituation,
lokich ren-
ders it one
ofthemofi
confider'
able forts
and for t-
reffes in the
£afi Indies.
Conqueflsy Settlements^ and Difcoveries of
though the oppofite fhore on Sumatra is very low, yet it
may be eafily ittn m a clear day. The fea is always as
fmooth as a mill-pond, except when ruffled with fqualls of
wind, which are commonly accompanied with lightning,
thunder, and rain ; yet, though they come with great vio-
lence, they are foon over **.
The country produces nothing for a foreign market, ex-
cept a little tin, and elephants teeth; but feveral excellent
fruits and roots for the ufe of the inhabitants, and ftrangers
who call for refrefhments. After all, this is a matter but
of fmall confequence, and would by no means compenfate
the charge, or juilify the prudence of the Dutch company,
in taking fo much pains, and being at (o large an expence,
for the prefervation of this fmall diftrid^. It is the im-
portance of its fituation that makes Malacca fo much re-
garded. It Hands as it were in the midil of the fea ; and
if one may be allowed the expreffion, divides India from
India, that is, there can be no commerce fafely carried on
from the coafls of Malabar, Coromandel, or the bay of
Bengal, to Sumatra, Borneo, Java, or the reft of the
illands, or to China or Japan, without the leave of fuch
as are mafters of this fhreight p. It was a juft fenfe of this
advantage that put the Portuguefe upon taking it ; in which
however they found more difficulty than in almoft any of
their conquefts. It was this confideration that prompted
the Dutch to acquire it, and now renders them fo cautious
in preferving their acquifition.
SECT. XXII.
Dire^ors,
though in-
ferior in
rank and
appoint -
mentSf
haven the
fame poiU'
er r.vith go-
An Account of the fecondary Governments^ or, as the
Dutch Jiyle them, Diredlions, en the Coaft of Coro-
mandely in Bengal, at Surat, and at Gombroon ;
as alfo of the Commandants on the Coaji of Malabar y
and elfezvhere*
V;i7'E have now done with the Dutch Eaft India company's
governments ; and the reader will obferve, that, as we
hinted before, thefe are confined to thofe places of which
they are abfolute mafters, and where other nations have no
trade at all, or none but by their permiffion. But as they
carry on a prodigious conimerce to places that are not im-
o Vo5'?.ge de Gautier Schouten, torn, ii, p. i;^4.,
moires lui Ic Commerce tics Hollandois, p. 201.
:3s.
pMe-
mediately
the Butch In the Eajl Indies, 91
mediately in their own poflcfiion ; fo thofe who have the
fuperintenckncy of their concerns in thefe places, are dif-
tinguiflied by different titles. The directories of Coroman-
del, Surat, Bengal, and Perfia, are all of great confe-
quence, and the diredion attended with great profit. The
direftors have, within the extent of their jurifdiCtions,
the fame power with the company's governors : the fole
diftinCtion is, that the dire6lor cannot execute any crimi-
nal fentence where he refides, but muft caufe it to be done
under the company's flag ; fo that all criminals are exe-
cuted on board a (hip ^. ' ^
The direftory of Coromandel is the firft of the four, and The firjldi^
he who prefides there has the fort and fadories belonging \^^J°Vli^g
to the Dutch under his infpeftion ; as, in the commerce ^^^^j^ ^j ^-^_
on this coaft, the Englifh and Danes have a fhare, and have romandel^
built feveral good fortrefles for its proteftion. The com- the refi-
pany have, notwithftanding a very confiderable intereft in f."^^f/^^
this part of India. Befides Negapatan, which lies on the r^g^itoNe-
fouthermoft point of Coromandel, and the fort of Guel- g^patan,
dria, in which the direftor refides, they have the factories
of Guenepatnam, Sadrcfpatnam, Malifpatnam, Pelicol,
Datlkorom, Benlifpatnam, Nagernauty, and Golconda.
The whole extent of the coaft from Nagapatan to Mafu-
lapatan may be about one hundred leagues. The Dutch
director has a council ; and, if he discharges his office
with reputation, he is commonly, after a few years, cho-
fen one of the counfellors of the Indies. This is a very
wife provifion in the management of the company's affairs,
that the honour and rank of a counfellor of the Indies,
though a poft of much lefs profit than that of a director
or governor, makes it afpired to by fuch as are already in
more profitable employments ; for it is not a very extraor-
dinary thing in the Indies for a governor, in the fpace of
a few years, to acquire an eftate equal to the original ca-
pital of the Eaft India company, that is, fix millions and a
half of guilders, which amounts to upwards of half a mil-
lion fterling ■■. There are alfo places at Batavia fo very
profitable, that, when the principal merchants are poficlT-
cd of them, they fometimes decline the dignity of coun-
fellor of the Indies, becaufe, however honourable it may
be, the profits are but fmall in comparifon of thefe lucra-
tive employments ; fuch as the fhabandar, or chief of the
cujiom-houfc, the fifcal of the fea, the drofi^ard of the flat
countries ; all which bring in prodigious funis '.
*• L'Expedition de trois VailTeaux, torn, ii. p. 175. v •• X'^em
fbidj p. 176. s Voyage de Nicolas Graaf, p. 30O; 30 <•
Here-
92 ConqueJlSy Setthmenfs^ and D //cover} es of
An account Heretofore the country of Coromandel, being divided
of the pre- into a great number of principalities, thefe little princes
^thnand^' ^^ chiefs laid fuch high duties, and gave fuch incer-
importance ^uptions to trade, as made the Dutch very uneafy ; but,
of this after the war of Golconda, which coft the company a
commerce, great deal of money, but ended at laft to their advantage,
thefe princes grew more tradable than formerly. At pre-
fent the kings of Bifnagar and Narfmga, who are the moll
powerful in Coromandel, live on pretty good terms with
the Dutch, and other Europeans. The chief trade car-
ried on there is in cottons, muflins, and chintfes;
in exchange for which the Dutch bring them fpices,
Japan copper, fleel, gold-duft, fandal and fiampan woods.
The inhabitants of the country are fome of them Pagans, -
fome Mahommedans, and not a few Chriftians. During
the eaft monfoon the weather is exceedingly hot, yet the
country is very fertile in rice, fruits, herbs, and whatever
elfe is neceffary for the fupport of man. All the manu-
factures of this country are tranfported in the company's
fhips to Batavia, from whence they are fent home to Hol-
land, and thence, with great profit, diflributed through-
out all Germany and the North.
Ike fecond The feats of the fecond and third dire6lions are fixed,
dirnBioHy the former at Ouglia, on the Ganges, thirty-fix leagues
featea at from the mouth of that river ; the other in the city of Su-
th^bmoT ^^^' ^"^^^^ ^^^ ^^ territories of the Great Mogul. Thofe
Bengal, marts are the moil confiderable for trade in all Afia : the
rto-w in t/ie Dutch, Englifh, French, and other Europeans, traffick to
Mogul's both, and have ere6led factories and magazines for their
dominions, fg^urity and convenience. The beft part of the trade is
carried on by Negro merchants, who deal in opium, dia-
monds, rich fluffs, and all kinds of cotton manufaflures.
The empire of the Great Mogul is of a prodigious extent,
and the countries under his dominion are efteemed the
richefl in the world. The natives employ themfelves,
when they refide in towns, in the filk, cotton, and linen
manufaftures ; and in the country, they cultivate their
plantations with the utmofl diligence ; fo that they an-
nually tranfport prodigious quantities of grain from hence
to Batavia \
Surat, Surat is a town of no very great antiquity, but very
luhuh is large, and immenfely rich. It is in compafs about five
alfointhe iniles within the walls, and the number of inhabitants are
^°^"^]^ comnuted at two hundred thoufand. The Moorifli, and
the feat of ^ „ ,. . , . „ .„.
thi third ^ ^'Expedition detrois Vaifleaux, torn. u. p. i8i.
dirediion, CVeH
the Dntcb in 4he Eaft Indies, 93
even the Indian merchants, are many of them prodiglouny
rich. The former addi£l themfelves chiefly to the dia-
rnond trade, which is very precarious ; for, with fome, a
fmall flock produces an immenfe fortune, whereas others
•wafte prodigious fums, without finding ftones of any great
value; for, at the diamond m.ines, they purchafe fo many
yards fquare at a certain price, pay the Haves who dig
and fift the earth, and take whatever ftones are found iu
that fpot, which fometimes are of great value, and fome-
tim€s fo fmall and fo few as not to quit coft ". Other
Moorifh merchants deal largely in foreign trade ; and, as •
the Mogul is a very eafy mafter, fo there are fome that
arrive at prodigious wealth, and carry on fuch a com-
merce, as can fcarce be credited in Europe. At this port,
and indeed through all the dominions of the Great Mo-
gul, Europeans deal chiefly for gold and filver, with which
they find they purchafe commodities upon the eafiefl
terms ; and in this particular the Dutch, w^^ho fettled here
about 1616, have a confiderable advantage ; for, inflead
of coin or bullion, they bring fine filver from Japan,
which bears a better price, as the Indians confume moll
of the rich metals they obtain in vafl fervices of plate,
very rich hrocades, or in gold and filver ftufFs, of which
much is worn in their own country, and n6t a little tranf-
ported into Perfia, and other places ; fo that the common
opinion of their hoarding up and burying filver is not
well founded «'.
The fourth and laft eflablifiiment under a directory is '^f^e fourth,
that at Bandar Abaffi, on the coaft of Perfia. The di- Xl^/o»
re61:or has a council and a fifcal to affift him. This city ^^^^ ^^ *
ftands on the gulf of Balfora, and is the only port which Gombroon,
the Perfian monarchs have on the Indian fea ; it lies at a o^^ Bandaf
great diftance from Batavia, which is one reafon why this ^^^•^' /^^
dire6tion is not fo much fought as others ; but there is an- pl^c^ ^^
other more potent, which is, that the heat is greater there
than in any other place, and the air exceffively unwhol-
iome. To balance thefe inconveniences, the director of
Gombroon has an opportunity of making, in a fliort time,
a vaft fortune ; fo that fome, who have been in that di-
reftion four or five years, have acquired fuch eflates as
rendered it unneceflary to concern themfelves any farther
in commerce '^, There are other European nations fettled
w Mifcellanea Curiofa, vol. iii. p. 244. ^ Hiftoire des Indes,
vol. ii p. 46. Hamilton's Account of the Eaft Indies, vol, i. Pi i42«
* Uiitionaire de Commerce, torn, ii. col, 709, 710.
there
94 Conquejlsj Settlements, and Difcoveries of
there befides the Dutch ; but they have by far the bed
fa£tory» and have fortified it fo effectually, that though
the Highlanders in its neighbourhood, vi^ho are a crew of
bold and barbarous robbers, have often attacked, yet they
never could mafter it. This city is but a difagreeable place
to live in, fince in Auguft it is fo hot, that there is no
bearing it, and in the v^inter fo cold, that they not only
-wear Englifh cloth, but line it with furs y. They have
here black cattle, fheep, goats, fowl, and fifh, very good,
and tolerably cheap ; grapes, melons, and mangoes, in
the utmoft perfection ; excellent wine, efteemed by the
bed judges fuperior to that of all other countries. In thofe
troubles, which have for many years dillurbed the
"whole dominions of Perfia, all trading nations have had
their fliare, and the Dutch amongft the reft *, neither is it
poflible to fay in what ftate their affairs Hand in this em-
pire at prefent.
Command' After directors, the next rank in the Dutch Eaft India
ants and company's fervice is commandant, or chief. In fome
chiefs, of- places, where military fkill, and a ftricfl attention to the
ih'^y^ k ^^^^^y ^^ ^^^^ place committed to his care, is chiefly re-
in the com- quired, the poM'er is intrufted with an officer, who has
fanfsfer- the title of commandant ; and in other places, where al-
Hik€» mofl the fole concern is trade, a merchant is at the head
of the company's affairs, who is ftyled the Dutch chief.
As direftors are reftrained from caufing criminals to be
executed, except under the company's flag, on board one
of their fhips •, fo there is a farther reftri£tion upon a
commandant or chief, for his fentence is not valid till re-
vifed and confirmed by the general and council at Batavia *.
We (hall take the fame method in fpeaking of thefe that
have been purfued, in giving an account of the governors
and directors, as indeed there is no other method by
which the power and influence of this company in the In-
dies can be thoroughly fhewn, or an adequate idea given
of its prefent flate and flrength.
Couchln^ The coaft of Malabar extends about a hundred and fifty
the refi- leagues in length, and in breadth about twenty. The cli-
denceojt e j^^j.^ though very warm, is very wholfome; the foil alfo
company s . ^ ».. .o. ^ . i n r -^ n i 'v\'
command' IS lertile, m rice, rruit, and all lorts oi heros. i nis coun-
ant upon try is divided into abundance of fmall principalities ;
the coafl of among which, the following have the title of kingdoms :
Malabar, Cananor, Calecut, Cranganor, Couchin, Calicoulang,
y Hamilton's Account of the Eaft Indies, vol. i. p. 94, 95.
» L' Expedition de trois VaiiTeaux, torn. ii. p. 188, i8g.
Porca,
the Dutch' in the Ehft Indies, 95
Porca, Couhng, and Travankor *. As the capital of the
Dutch pofleflions in this country is the city Couchin, where
the commandant refides, we (hall particularly defcribe that
little kingdom. It reaches from Chitwa, about twenty-
four leagues to the fouthward, and, on the coaft, is di-
vided by the rivulets that run from the mountains of Gat-
ti, into a multitude of fmall iflands *, and thefe rivers have
two great mouths, or outlets, one at Gouchin, the other
at Cranganor. The Portuguefe built, at the firll of thefe,
a fine city, on the river-fide, about three leagues from the
fea ; but, the fea gaining on the land yearly, it is not dift-
ant now above one hundred paces. The city built by the
Portuguefe was a mile and an half long, and a mile broad.
The Dutch took it about the year 1662, when Heitloff
van Ghonz was general of their forces by land and fea,
and the king of Couchin aflilted with twenty thoufand
men^.
The Dutch had fcarcely invefted the place, before Van 7he man*
Ghonz received advice of a peace between Portugal and nirin
Holland ; but that he kept a fecret. He therefore, having ^'^^^^ *^^
made a breach in the weakeft part of the wall, proceeded ^^^^^ ^j^il
to an aflault for eight days and nights, without intermif- place nvhen
fion, and relieved his men every three hours ; but the For- under the
tuguefe keeping their's continually upon duty all the while, Portuguefe,
and finding the city at laft in danger of being taken by
ftorm, delivered up the place. In the town there were
four hundred Topaffes, who had done good fervice, but
were not comprehended in the treaty. As they knew the
cruelty and licentioufnefs of the Dutch foldiery, they drew
up on a parade, within the port at which the Portuguefe
were to go out, and the Dutch to enter, and fwore, that
if they had not the fame favour granted as the Portuguefe,
they would maflacre them all, and fet fire to the town.
The Dutch general knew his intereft too well to deny what
they defired, and offered, moreover, to take thofe who
had a mind to ferve into Dutch pay ; an offer which many
of them accepted. The very next day came a frigate from
Goa, with the articles of peace ; and the Portuguefe com-
plaining loudly of the general's unfair dealings, were an-
fwered, that the Portuguefe had aded the fame faice to-
wards the Dutch, at their taking Fernambuco, in Brafil, a
few years before ^,
a Diftionairede Commerce, torn. ii. col. 783,724,735. b Ha-
^Jitou'6 Account of the Eaft Ind. vol. i, p. 323. * Ibid. p. 319,
1O.
The
q6
upon this
re'vo'ution,
the Eng-
iijhy luho
had a fac-
tory there,
nvere obli-
ged to
withdraw.
A confidef"
able fettle -
ment of the
Jews at
Cranga-
nor from
the time of
the capti'
ConqueftSy Settlement s^ and Difcoveries of
The Englifli had then a faftory in Couchin j but the
Dutch ordered them to remove, with their efFe(£ls, to Pen-
nany. The Dutch, thinking the place too large, eon-
trafted it to one-tenth of what it was. It is about fix
hundred paces long, and two hundred broad, fortified
with feven large baftions, and curtains fo thick, that two
rows of large trees are planted on them, for fhade in the
hot feafon. Some ftreets built by the Portuguefe are ftill
ftanding, with a church for the Dutch fervice, and the ca-
thedral, which is now turned into a warehoufe. The com-
mander's houfe, a (lately flru(3:ure, is the only houfe built
after the Dutch mode, and the river wafhes fome part of its
walls. Their flag-ftafFis placed on^the flieeple of the old
cathedral, on a mafl of feventy-five feet high, fo that the
flag may be feen above feven leagues off. The garrifon
here generally confifts of three hundred effective men:
from hence to Cape Conwrinj are allowed for garrifons,
in all their forts and facrories, five hundred foldiers, and
one hundred feamen, Europeans, befides fome Topafles,
and the militia. The country produces great quantities
of pepper, but lighter than that which grows more to the
north. Tlieir woods afford good teak for building, and
angelique and pawpeet for making large chefls and cabi-
nets, which are carried all over the weft coails of India.
They have alfo iron and Heel in plenty, and bees-w^ax, for
exporting *'. ' . -
Cranganor lies a league up the river from the fea, and
tlie Dutch have alfo a fort there. This place is remark-
able for having been formerly the feat of a JemOi govern-
ment, that nation having been once fo numerous there,
that they could reckon above eighty thoufand families, but
at prefent are reduced to four thoufand. They have a fy-
nagogue at Couchin, not far from the king's palace, about
two miles from the city, in which are carefully kept their
records, engraven on copper-plates, in Hebrew chara£leis ;
and when any of the characters decay, they are new cut ;
fo that they can Ihew their hiflory from the reign of Ne-
buchadnezzar to this prefent time ^.
Between Crangajior and Couchin there is an ifland call-
ed Bayhin, four leagues long, but no part of it is two
miles broad. The Dutch forbid all vefiels or boats to en-
ter at Cranganor and at Couchin. The channel is about a
quarrter of ajnilebroad, but, y^ry deep, though the bar has
d L*Expedition de trois Vaifleaux, vol. ii. p. 190, 191. cDiq-
tionaire de Commerce^ torn, ii. col. 784.
not
the Butch in the Rafi Indies. ^j
not abbve fourteen feet water at fpring-tldes. It is from
the large extent of country, and the confiderable body of
troops, over which he has an entire conlmand, that the of-
ficer who prefides at Couchin is looked Upon as the firft of
his rank ^
The fecond commandery in the company's fervice is that p^„^^ j^
of Ponte de Galo, in the ifland of Ceylon, the firft fort- Galo, on
refs of confequence that fell into the hands of the Dutch, t^e ijland
and a place, both from its fituation and ftrength, of very ^{P^l^^^* ,
great importance. The port is more capacious, and much pQn l^"
more commodious than that of Columbo, but is fomewhat ^which the
expofed to the weft winds. The commander is fubje£l: to Dutch
the orders of the governor of Ceylon, and can do nothing ^^'^^ ^
without his approbation. The reafon of preferving this ^^^^gj.
diftinft command is, that before the reft of the coaft was
reduced, this officer was at the head of the company's af-
fairs in the ifland, and it ftill remains a poft both of honour
and profit, from whence, in procefs of time, fuch as dif-
charge it with reputation are frequently raited to be go-
vernors 5. It is here that the greateft part of the trade of
the natives is carried on ; and it may not be amifs to ob-
ferve, that, as amongft the Chingualeys, every trade, and
every profeffion, is confined to a particular tribe, or^ as
they ftyle them, cafts ; fo thofe who exercife merchandize
are divided into four cafts, which are thus diftinguiftied :
the Chittays, that is to fay, merchants who deal in drugs
of all kinds, linens, and other manufactures, and who are
fometimes alfo concerned in fhipping ; the Cavcrchittays^
who deal in gold, filver, and other metals, in which they
make aflays, and are very Ikilful ; the Cometi-chittays,
they vend grain, roots, herbs, and other kinds of provi-
fion. The Valigi-chittays, whofe traffic confifts in jewels,
cryftals, toys of their own making, and all forts of mine-
rals. Each of thefe cafts live diftin6l and feparate, never
intermarry, nor fo much as eat and drink one with another ;
which is alfo an inviolable rule among the cafts of other
profeffions.
The fourth commandery is that of Samarang, in the The laj} of*
ifland of Java, which ftands at the diftance of fixty-eight Jicer -with
miles from Batavia, and is one of the moft confiderable *^^^ '^'^^
towns in that great ifland. It is very agreeably feated, in ^^fi^^^^^^
a fine and fertile plain, with a large river running through /^ /yj^
ijland of
^L'Expedition de troisVaifTeaux, torn, ii p. 190. sD^lionaire Java,
de Commerce, torn. ii. coi. 851. L'Expedition de trois Vaifleaux,
torn. ii. p. 192.
Mod. Vol. IX. H it.
^8 Conquefts, Settlement Sy and Difcoveries of
it, navigable for fmall veflels. It is computed that tliC
town does not confifl of fewer than twenty thoufand
hbufes. The Dutch factory is very large and commodious,
the fort ftrong, well fortified, and held by a garrifon that
is always complete. The commander has under his di-
rection all the adjacent coaft 5 and the commerce here is
very confiderable, as well with the Chinefc, who refort
thither in great numbers. It is from hence that the Dutch
correfpond vtith the emperor of Java, who holds his court
at Cartafoura, diftant from thence about four days journey,
. a city confifling of about thirty thoufand houfes, fome
built of {tone, fome of wood, and fome of bamboo-canes.
He refided formerly at Mataram, a day's journey farther
from Sarnarang, being without comparison, the largeft city
in the whole ifland, two full leagues in length, and con-
taining upwards of fixty thoufand houfes. The com-
mander of Samarang is always an officer of diftindtion,
one upon whofe judgment, a£tivicy, and fidelity, the
company can entirely rely ; for otherwife, any miftake or
omiflion of his might be very fatal to their affairs, in a
country where the people are reftrained only by an appre-
henfion of fuperior force ; which, however, feldom keeps
them from carrying on fecret intrigues, and dark con-*
trivances ^.
SECT. XXIIL
Th Third Order of Governments under thofe who are
Jtyled only Chiefs,
Firji chief A T Bantam, on the fame ifland, the head of the factory
ejiablijhed '^*' has the title of chief. There is a very ftrong fort
at Bant amy there, and a numerous garrifon, to keep the people in
\^ '^f/*^^^awe, who are very mutinous, and far enough from being
%jhlchis ^^^^ afFe£ted to the Dutch. The king has alfo a fort, at
an office of the diftance of fome hundred paces from that of the com-
great emo- pany, in which he has likewife a good garrifon, for the
lument, fecurity of his pcrfon. The only commodity of the coun-
try is pepper, of which they aTe able to export annually
ten thoufand tons. The bay of Bantam- is very fafe and
pleafant, in which are many iflands that ftill retain the
names given them by the Englifli, who had formerly a
h Di6lionalre de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 805. L'Expedition de
trois Vaifleaitx, torn- ii- p 190,
very
the Dutch in the Eajl Indiesl 99
Vety fine fa<Sl:ory at this place, from which they were ex-
pelled in 1683 ^. The Eafl India company oblige the king
to furniih them with a certain quantity of pepper ; in all
other refpeds they treat him kindly enough, becaufe it is
their intereft fo to do. He is the fovereign of a great
country well peopled : his fubjecSts are a hardy, enterprif-
ing nation, perfidious, revengeful, and naturally hating all
Chriftians to the laft degree. Such being thv^ character
of the natives, the Dutch are kept continually upon their
guard ; no private perfon, nay, no company of a fcore,
or better, dare ftir from under the cover of their fortifi-.
cations j if they did, the firft Javanefe that had it in his
power would infallibly deprive him of life ^,
The fecond, who is ftyled chief, refides at Padang, on The feconi
the coaft of Sumatra, otherwife called the Gold Coaft. P^fi ^J <:f'"f
This chief has his council and fifcal, like the reft, and it p^^^^* g„
is ufually confidered as a very profitable employment. ^/^^ ^^^J ^jr
Sumatra is a very large fine ifland, feparated from the con- the ijland
tinent of Afia by the ftreights of Malacca, and is juftly Sutna^
regarded as one of the richeil countries in the Indies. It ^'^^^
is, according to the beft accounts, upv/ards of four hun^
dred leagues in circumference. The greateft and moft
powerful monarch therein is the king of Achem, or, as it
is written in the Indies, Atcheen K It was formerly go-
verned by a woman ; and queen Elizabeth held a clofe
correfpondence with the queen of Achem, who was liv-
ing in her time. It is not above forty years fince the go-
vernment fell into the hands of a man, and feveral at-
tempts have been made fince to reftore the old conftitu-
tion, under which the people were much happier than
any of their neighbours. It is to this day a free port, to
which the Englifti, Dutch, Portuguefe, Chinefe, and in
fhort, all the nations of Europe and Afia, trade with
fafety. The merchandize carried thither confifts in rich
brocades, filks, muilins of all forts, raw filk, fifii, butter,
oil, and ammunition, for which they are paid chiefly in
gold, the great commodity of the country, and remarkably
fine. Almoft all the mountains abound with gold, filver,
lead, and other metals. The company is poflefled of fome
mines of gold which are very rich, and great care taken
both to fecure and conceal the profits that are made of
them^ There are likewife great quantities of gold-dult
i Captain Hamilton's Account cf the Eaft Indies, vol. ii. p, 127.
k L'Expedition detrois Vaifleaux, torn. ii. p. i^\, ^ Memoires
fur le Commerce des Holiandois, p. 20a.
H 2 found
100 Conqmjlsy Settlements^ and Dlfcoverks of
found in the rivulets of this country, efpecially during
the time the weft monfoon reigns, becaufe then the tor-
Tv^nts roll from the mountains with greater rapidity (I).
There is alfo abundance of copper, of which they make
great guns *, feveral forts of precious ftones ; and a moun-
tain of burning brimftone, which continually throws out
flames, like mount Gibel in Sicily. There are not any
of thofe forts of corn that grow in Europe, but plenty of
rice, millet, and fruits, which afford good and fufficient
nourifliment for the inhabitants. It produces likewife
abundance of honey, bees-wax, ginger, camphor, caffia.
(I) Upon comparing the
belt accounts that can be had
of this ifland, it very fally ap-
pears, that not only gold
abounds in aimed all parts of
it, but, what can fcarce be
faid of any other country,
there are found in Sumatra all
the different forts of gold of
which we find any mention
made by fuch as are befl ac-
quainted with that precious
metal, and the diflerent me-
fhods in which it is colIecSled.
We have, in the text, fpoken
of the more common ways of
coming at gold in Sumatra;
but, belide thefc, there are
others not fo generally known.
Some of the fervants in the
Dutch fa<5lorics have, at the
proper feafon of the year, flak-
ed flannel waiftcoats in the
fmall rivulets running down
from the mountains, and by
wringing them twice or thrice
in^twenty-four hours, have ob-
tained confiderable quantities
of gold dufl. By waflilng the
mud taken out of the holes in
the rock, they obtain bits of
gold from the bignefs of pins
heads to pieces weighing a
quarter of an ounce, and fome-
times more, but the latter are
very rare. Larger pieces of
gold are fometimes taken out
of a rich, black, fo ft mould ;
but, except the gold-dufl, thefe
are of a low touch, that is,
are far from being pure. The
high mountains in the center
of the ifland are inhabited by a
race of wild and favage peo-
ple, who exchange with their
more civilized neighbours for
neceffaries, and more efpe-
cially, when they can get
them, for arms and ammuni-
tion, a fort of rock gold, than
which there is none finer in
the world; and from thefe
people are fometimes purchaf-
ed pieces of the rock, which
appears to be a kind of white
folid marble, through which
there run fprigs, or, if we
may be allowed fo to call them,
veins of pure gold, fome fcarce
bigger than a hair, and others
as large as a common quill.
Thefe rocky fragments are
preferved as curioiities in the
cabinets ofperfons of diftinc-
tion at Batavia ( i ) .
(r) Voyages de Nrcolas Graaf aux Indes Orientales, p. 42. L'Ejf-
pedition de trois Vaiffeaux, torn. ii. p. 198. Memoires fur Je
Commerce dcb HoUanttois, p. 103.
pepper^.
the Dutch in the Eqft Indies, lOi
pepper, white fanders, and efpecially cotton, of which
the inhabitants make their garments, and a variety of ma-
nufadures "".
There is no country in the Indies, where, during the Feivcoun^
weftern monfoons, the rains fall with greater violence, or tries richer
are attended with more terrible ftorms of thunder, hght- J^g^lp^an
ning, and earthquakes, than Sumatra; but the natives, ^Tsuma-
being ufed to them, are not much alarmed, bear them t^a,
patiently, and are feldom heard to complain of their cli-
mate. Thefe people are, generally fpeaking, Moham-
medans, and are very expert in making all forts of gold
plate with very few tools, and .yet with fuch inimitable
dexterity, that what is of their workmanfhip fells at a very
great rate throughout all the Indies. The company fends
every year a great number of Haves to work in their gold
mines. The kings in that part of the country are very
rarely upon good terms with the Dutch, and fometimes
quarrel with the company, and draw all their fubje£ls out
of their fervice. The principal places where gold is
found by the natives of the country, are Triou and Ma-
nincabo. Their moll ufual method of coming at it is
thus : they dig, at the bottom of the mountain, ditches,
where the water being flopped as it pours down in the
winter, they draw it off in the fummer, and by wafhing
the mud which remains at the bottom, obtain from thence
confiderable quantities of gold-duft. It is generally be-
lieved that this ifland furnifhes annually five thoufand
pounds weight of this precious metal ; yet very little, if
any, is ever brought to Europe, the Eall India company
employing it in other places where gold is valuable, and
where they can purchafe other commodities which at home
turn to a better account ".
The Dutch have a factory at PuUambam, about eight "i^^^^J^^
leagues from the coafl, on the banks of a very large river, toryfi{ed'
that empties itfelf into the fea by four- different channels, at Pullam*
The great trade carried on there is that of pepper, which bam,
the Eaft India company would willingly monopolize in
the fame manner they they engrofs cloves, cinnamon, and
nutmegs. With this view they are at the expencc of fe-
veral armed barks cruifing at the mouth of this river to
prevent what they are pleafed to call fmuggling. It muft
be allowed that they have made a contra^ with the king
to take off all the pepper in his dominions, at the rate or
in Geographic Moderne, p3r Abralnm dn Bois, p 6i?^. " Hlf-
^oire des IndesOrientales, par Guvon, torn. ii. p, 113.
H 3 t«i
|0a Conquefts, Settlements^ and Dlfcoverm of
ten pieces of eight for a bahaar, or foiir hundred pounds
which is a very fair price. They have, however, a faving
claufe in their contraft, by which it is provided, that half
the purchafe of pepper fhall be taken in cloth, at fuch a
rate as greatly reduces the value of their cargoes ; and it
is for this reafon that the Dutch are fo much afraid of
fmuggling. Yet, in fpite of all their armed barks, it is a
thing notorioufly known, that, for a thoufand florins to
his majefly of Pullambam, and as much to the Dutch
chief, a cargo of a thoufand bahaars of pepper may be
carried off the ifland without any great trouble °.
A third on On the banks of the riv^r Bancalis they have another
i/ie rtwr Ygj.y confiderable faftory, which produces annually vaft
paacais. fu^s from the fale of cloth and opium, which are paid
for in gokUduft. This was difcovered by a fa6lor in the
company's fervice, who, after he had carried it on pri-
vately for about ten years, and acquired by it upwards of
ten thoufand pounds llerling per annum, prudently re-
folved to Tecure what he had got by making a difcovery of
this branch of commerce to the company. There are
likewife feveral other Dutch plantations on this ifland,
which are altogether comprehended under the general
title of the well coaftP. Befides thefe, and all the places
before mentioned, the Dutch have a flrong fort and great
factory at Jambie, and another at Slack, which is excef-
fively unwholefome. It flands on the great river Andra-
ghira, into which, at a certain feafon of the year, there
come vaft quantities of fl-jads of a very large fize, one
third of which is owing to their roes, which are accounted
a great delicacy. Thefe being extracted, the, reft of the
fifti is thrown away, and, lying in great heaps, corrupt
and exhale peftilential vapours that infecS the air. The
perfons, therefore, that are fent to Slack, are much of
the fame ftamp with thofe that are carried to Banda, that
is to fay, men of abandoned characters and defperate for-
tunes. To fpeak plainly, there is too much gold in this
country, if any credit may be given to the Dutch them-
felves, for honefty to take any deep root ; the chiefs of
Padang being more expofed to fufpicion, and falling
pftener under profecutions, than any other perfons of their
rank in the company's fervice; an occurrence that is
afcribed to fome ftrange circumftances that attend the
company's mines, which produce no great matters,
» Hamilton's Account of the Eaft Indies, vol, ii. p. ii8, 119.
f l^emoires de Pr. Garci^i.
though
the Dutch in the Eaft LiJks, 103
tliough thefe chiefs, and all their under-ofEcers, acquire
great eftatqs in two or three years, by methods which the
general and council at Batavia are feldom able to difcover.
The company fometimes build Ihips at fome of their fet-
dements in this ifland, not for the fakeof faving expences,
but cij account of the excellence of the timber j thofe
vefleL laiting at leall twice as long as ihips of the fame
bulk built in Europe "J.
SECT. XXIV.
A complete Hiftory of the Commerce and State of the
Dutch Company at Japan,
'T^ H E third chief refides at Japan ; he is always a prln- Thperjon
'■' cipal merchant, and isaffifted by fome writers in iiiQ enirupd
company's fervice. The profit which they formerly made ^*^^/»-
by this eftabliihment was very confiderable, amounting of airs in
frequently to eighty or a hundred per cent, but is now Japan is
funk, as fome writers affirm, to fuch a degree, that they i^^}i^i^4
rarely make above eight or ten. This great diminution ^^'^'
is chiefly owing to the praftice of the Chinefe, who, for
fome time pad, have purchafed all forts of goods proper
for that market at Canton, and exported from thence to
Japan. It is alfo faid that they have contra6led with the
Japanefe to furnilh them with all forts of merchandize at
the fame price that the Dutch demand. Another caufe is,
a practice eftablillied by the Japanefe themfelves, which
is, fixing the price of goods ^ It is very poffible that
fome improvemicnts of this notion have been fuggefled to
them by the Chinefe, who were treated in the fame man-
ner formerly at Batavia. The governor-general. Van
Zwol, thought proper to fet a price on ail forts of filks,
and other goods, the Chinefe brought to Batavia ; and at
the fame time fixed the rate of the commodities and manu-
fa£lures which the company were to give in exchange. This
method the Chinefe looked upon as a prodigious hardfhip,
and a thing Incompatible with the nature of commerce. They
reprefentedit in the ftrongefl terms to the general, but to no
manner of purpofe. They then addrefled themfelves to their
fovereign 5 andcomplainedof thisinnovation fo warmly, that,
q Memoires fur le Coramerce des Holiandois, p. 2C», aoj. «■ Me-
naoires ds Dr. Garcin.
H 4 .aft«r
X04 Co'ftquejls^ Settlements, and Difcoveries of
after various expoftulations with the governor, all commerce
ceafed between the two nations, and things continued in
this poilure till the death of Mr. Van Zwol j but his fuc-
cefTor, Mr. Swaardekroon, a6\ing upon quite different
principles, reftored things to their former llate, and put
their commerce on the old foot^ With no fmall diffi-
culty things were brought to this pafs alfo in Japan, and
upon repeated applications, trade reftored to its old chan-
nel. Yet not long after the court gave into a new pro-
je61:, to the full as oppreffive *, and this was, fixing the
quantity of goods which fhould be brought on board each
fquadron, that is to fay, the Dutch were left at liberty to
'bring what they would, to fell and buy at what price they
would, provided they kept the whole of their dealings
within the compafs of a fum prefcribed. Upon this fub-
je£l: they had recourfe to frefh remonftrances, which were
not altogether ineffedual, and yet did not procure an en-
tire abolition of this troublefome edi^l %
No place in Upon the whole, there is no place in the Eaft Indies
the Indies where the Dutch have fo little authority, and where their
'^. I eftablifliment is become of fo little confequence, as in
hanjefo Japan. They have, it is true, a little ifland allowed them,
little au- where they have magazines for their goods, and a few
t/iority as ordinary houfes, in which fuch perfons live as are in the
in Japan, company's fervice ; but then this is in effecl a prifon, iri
which they are fhut up the time they ftay here, and
^ are not fo much as allowed to pafs the bridge that joins
this ifland to the city of Nangazaqui. The only fhadow
of liberty that is left confifts in the chief's going once a
year, attended by two or three other perfons, to the court
of the emperor, in quality of ambaitador, to renew the
treaty of amity and commerce which fubfifts between that
pionarch and the company. One great caufe afligned for
holding the Dutch to fuch hard terms, is, their hav-
ing attempted familiarities with Japanefe women *, but
the true reafon is, a well-grounded fufpicion that the
Dutch have an inclination to fix themfelves by force, of
which they have more than once given fome very apparent
- tokens; the laft of which, notwithftanding it fell out
jiiany years ago, yet is hke to be ever remembered ",
« L'Expedition de trois Vaifleaux, p. ao2, 203, « P. Charlevoix,
Hilloire du Japon, torn. ii. p. 450. " Hanjilton's Account of
the Eaft Indies, vol. ii. p. 202, 203,
It
the Dutch in the Eufi Indies. 105
It happened, as is reported, thus : Mr. Carron, their Mr. Car^
chief in Japan, was a perfon of great parts, and one, ^°^y 'w^'^*
■who, in feveral journies he made to the emperor's court, ij^^^^
had found means to ingratiate himfelf with that monarch, tempts]
by entertaining him with accounts of the ftate of Europe though un-
at that time, which that prince, and indeed all the Japa- fuccefsfully,
nefe emperors, are very curious to know. Having by ff.^^'
thefe means frequent accefs to the imperial prefence, he, hvfZ7el
prefuming on his credit with the emperor, begged per- "'
miflion to build a houfe on the little ifland where their
factory flood, on his mailers account ; which the empe-
ror granted. Accordingly the foundation was laid ; the
bufmefs went chearfuUy on, till it grew into a handfome
fortification of a regular tetragon. The Japanefe, being
entirely ignorant of the art of fortification, had not the
leaft fufpicion of deceit, but fufFered them to complete
it. When it was finilhed, Mr. Carron advifed the gene-
ral and council at Batavia of the progrefs he had made ;
and defired, by the next {hipping, to have fome cannon
fent him in calks filled with oakum or cotton, the calks
to be well bound with iron hoops, and the heads fecurely
fixed in; with fome calks of the fame make filled with
fpices : which advice was accordingly followed. When
the fhipping arrived, the cargo' in a proper time was
landed; but in rolling the cafks, one, in which was a
brafs gun, fell to pieces, and the cheat was difcovered.
This incident put a ftop to all commerce till the emperor's
pleafure was known ; and gave that monarch a very bad
impreffion of the Dutch, and of all who were employed
by them. He would not however prohibit trade ; but
gave orders to put any Dutchman to death who fhould
prefume to flir out of the ifland ; and dire61:ed that Mr.
Carron fhould be fent to anfwer for this fault to Jeddo,
where he refide4. On his arrival, being interrogated, he
was able to fay nothing in excufe ; when the emperor re-
proached him with abufing his kindnefs : for which he
had his beard pulled out hair by hair ; and then, being
drelTed in a fool's coat and cap, he was expofed in that
condition through all the flreets in the city. After this
ceremony he was fent back to his fa6lory, with orders
to return in the firft fliip that was fent to Batavia. This
feems to be a more probable account of his difgace, and
pf demolilhing the Dutch warehoufes, than what we find
plfewhere given ^ 5 as alfo for the bad reception that
*^ Recueil de Voyages au Nord, torn. iii. p. 246.
Carron
io6 ConqueftSy Settlements 3 and Djfcoveries of
Carron met with at Batavia, which induced him to defert
the Dutch Eaft India company's fervice, and to put him-
felf into that of the French king.
A concife The government in Japan is defpotic ; and, as IS ufual
account of in all abfolute governments,- the prime miniftfers, while in
the nature favour, exercife the fupreme authority in the name of
pc!n-]e lo-^ '^^^^^ mafters *, fo that it is very difficult, if not altogether
'vernment^ impra61:icable, to obtain any relief from the grievances
anditsrul- they impofe, or any redrefs of their afts of injullice,
ing maxim, more efpecially when the fufFerers are ftrangers. 'Ihe
Japanefe minifters have their maxims of ftate as well as
other nations ; and thofe who have negociated with them,
allow, that they want not either parts or penetration.
In the fpace of one hundred and fifty years that the
Dutch have been fettled here, they have been able to
learn but little with certainty concerning the extent of
this empire, or the true fituation of its affairs ; from
whence it appears, that, with them, fecrecy pafles for
the very bafis of policy ; and, though their minifters are
not wanting in good fenfe, learning, or poiitenefs, yet
the humour of talking of their aifairs, or of giving more
light than is abfolutely ncceffary as to the motives upon
which they a(fl, is not among the number of their foibles ;
otherwife we (hould not be fo much at a lofs upon this
head as we really are, notwithftanding fo many defcrip-
tions and accounts of illands of Japan tha't have been
publifhed in various languages, from the perufal of whicli
a judicious reader will reap but little fatisfa6tion \
Arenatu- It is generally allowed that the bulk of the nation have
rally and a ftrong propenfity to commerce. In their villages, as
generally ^^jj ^^ great towns, almoft every private houfe is « maga-
addiSied to ^^^^ ^^^ fome kind of traffic or other, fo that it has been
traffic as thought no bad defcription of the Japanefe to ftile them
any nation a nation of fhopkeepers. Yet this general propenfity does
whatever, j^qj. hinder perfons of rank, and of learned profeffions,
from entertaining a very low and mean opinion of trade,
from a notion that the defire of gain is a principle of
fraud, and mufl confequentlv produce many vices (K).
The
I
X Relation concernant I'Empire et le Governement du Japon,
par Frangois Caron, Prefident de la Compagnie Hollandoife du
Japon, drefTe par ordre de Monfieur Lucas, Diredteur- General des
affaires de la meme Compagnie des Indes Orientales, p. 4.
(K) According to the ancient as duty, impofition, cuflom,
fundamental maxims of this or excife, upon any kind of
empire, there is no fuch thing commodity or manufadlure ex-
ported
the Dutch in the Eaji Indies, ' io7
Th^ Japanefe heretofore had a pretty general inter- yindently
courfe Vv^ith the nations of the Eaft, both by receiving the com-
their commodities, and tranfporting their own ; and it is fn^*"^^ of
in a great meafure probable at leait, if not certain, that '^.^P^^ ^**
the government would be inclined to a free trade with all ^an/otent9
nations, if they were not with-held by thefe two poli- all nations ^
tical confiderations : the firft is, the dread of having their thoughm'm
religion infulted, which, from a mifguided zeal, was very rejirainsd.
frequent while there were Chriftians among the Japanefe.
The other, their averficn to any innovation in the man-
ners of their people, from which they apprehend the
worft confequences. When the Dutch were iirft efla-
blifhed there, the prime minifter of Japan gave their em-
baflador this account of the matter ^ : " We do not con-
demn your cuftoms, or cenfure your way of living ; but
we are determined to preferve our own. We know very
well the advantages that refult from the fyftem of govern-^
ment eftabliihed amongft us, and we will not run the
hazard of a change ; we know, too, that great revolu-
tions are brought about by imperceptible degrees, and
therefore we are refolved to cure the itch of novelty by
the rod of punifhment." Upon this maxim that law is
founded, by which no Japanefe dares leave his country %
find, if he does, he muft never return. Before this pro-»
f P. Charlevoix Hiftoire du Japon, torn. ii. p. 134, 135.
ported or imported, nor is there may be a warning to the neigh-
any thing levied for the ufe of bourhood. In fupport of this
the emperor to the prejudice the Japanefe ftatefmenfay, that,
of their interior traffic, but where there are many traders,
every man enjoys the produce there muft be fevere laws to
of his own goods, and the fruits keep them honeft ; and that a
of his own labour : but, to few rigorous executions is the
prevent private perfons from only way to prevent a great
im poling upon each other, many. As for large payments
weights and meafures have a amongft them, they are made
legal ftandard, and an iron ell by purfes of gold fealed by one
is fixed at each end of every of the emperor's oflicers ; and,
public ftreet, that, if anybody fo long as the purfe and the
lufpeds any |foul dealing, it feal continue whole, they pafs
may be deteded upon the fpot, without fcruple from hand to
and, in that cafe, nothing lefs hand, without being ever open-
than death is the punlfliment; ed, or the pieces counted,
but for frauds of a deeper and though fome of thefe purfes
more ferious nature, not only contain five hundred and fome
the party oflending but his a thoufand pounds, of our
^hole family fuffer, that it money.
hlbitioi^
io8 Conqueftsy Settlements^ and Btfcoverles of
liibition took place, they traded to China, Siam, and to
the Philippine and Molucca Iflanvis ; but at prefent, as
far as we can learn, they carry on no foreign commerce
whatever ?.
Terms on Thefe general obfervations will enable us to ftate more
Kuhich the clearly that fo much envied trade which the Dutch Eaft
joreign India company ftill enjoy in this empire ; in which though
commerce jy i ^ 4^, ^ •' .-. ' .1. 01 * r
0/ Japan *■ ^^^ ^"^^^ "^ l^uropean competitors, yet the Lhmele are
Jiands at ^i^^ permitted to fend thither annually goods to the value
prefent » of fix hundred thoufand taels. The Siamefe likewife
fend thither two or three velTels every year ; and the like
number arrive from Camboya, though it is generally un-
derftood that thefe are freighted by the Chinefe who re-
fide there ; to thefe if we add the inhabitants of the
iiland of Liquios, who have likewife fome fmall fhare
in the Japan trade, we may venture to affirm, that we
have named all who have any concern therein ^^ It is
highly probable, that, from that fpirit of jealoufy which
has long prevailed in the Japanefe government, they
• would be inclined to fhut out fome of thefe, if they were
not apprehenfive of conveniences: as it is, they make
their commerce fo troublefome and uneafy, that nothing
but the vaft profits arifmg from the commodities they Mtw^S.
could induce any nation to difpenfe with their regula-
tions -, but if it be true, that the Dutch gain annually
half a million fterling, exclufive, as fome think, of the
private trade, it accounts well enough for their condu6t ;
and what that is, we (hall next endeavour to fhew as
perfpicuoufly, and at the fame time as fuccindly, as pof-
fible.
At 'what The Dutch fent annually four fliips from Batavia for-
timey and merly, but now they fend only two to Japan, of between
%vith '-what thirty and fifty pieces of cannon ; but indifferently armed,
^T^n^' h ^^^^^^"^ there is little danger in thefe feas, and that they
ffnd their "^'^7 8^^'^ ^^^ ^^^^ umbrage to the Japanefe, who fee with
annual fufpicion fhips of great force upon their coafts. Thefe
Jbips to veflels are laden with fuch European and Indian goods as
Japan. are {^^ demand at Japan, fuch as Englifli and Dutch cloths,
camblets of all forts, brocades, gold and filver, very rich
filks of all colours, and efpecially crimfon and white raw
filk, raw cotton, and fpun cotton, tapeftries, lead, ileel,
and refined fugars, and fpices of all kinds, Morocco leather,
and all forts of fkins, particularly buck and doe, of which
j: Memoires de Dr. Garcin. Recueil de Voyages au Nord, torn.
in, p. 130. h Memoires du Japon, p- 135.
the/
the Dutch in the Eqfl Indies. lo^
they Garry a prodigious quantity, and about half the quan-
tity of ox-hides. They fail about the middle of June, and
the firft land they make is ufually the ifland of Poltimon,
which is in the latitude of 2 deg. 50 min. north. There
they take in water, and other refrefhments ; and then con-
tinue their voyage to Japan, where they arrive in Auguft ;
and finding every thing ready prepared for them, their
goods are quickly got on fhore, and brought into their
warehoufes, forted, and fitted for fale. The merchants
likewife are fummoned from the adjacent countries, and
have catalogues given them of the goods brought by the
laft fleet ; fo that all is over by the latter end of 0£lober,
and the fhips are ready to fail very early in the next
month, when the Japanefe never fail to prefs them to be
gone *. The Dutch were formerly fettled in the ifland of
Firando •, and that in which they are now fixed is properly
called Defima, being made by art, and originally raifed to
confine the Portuguefe, in the year 1635. This difgrace
is generally reported to have been drawn upon them by the
intrigues of the Dutch ; and if the fact be true, they have
fufl^ered very juflily for their contrivance.
This ifland is oblong, joined to the city of Nangazaqui AJkort de-
by a Hone bridge, with a wooden draw-bridge at the end. f^riptmi of
Where the bridge joins the city, there is a flrong corps de n Jl 1
garde pofled night and day. At the entranccv from the Defima^
bridge there is a large ftone pillar, upon which hang, in
feveral tables, the emperor's edi£ls for the regulation of the
Dutch trade ; and three high poits are fet up in the fea, to
mark the places where the Dutch fliips are to anchor, to
prevent their coming near the city. The ifland is palifa-
doed like a park, and thofe pallfades fpiked. It is not, in
its greateft extent, above two hundred and forty paces in
length, and not more than eighty broad. There is a (Ireet
acrofs it, with houfes, or rather huts on both fides; the
lower flory of each" ferves for a warehoufe, and the upper
for the lodging rooms. There is a very convenient houfe '
for the Japanefe direftor of trade, who goes thither when
the {hips arrive ; befides another handfome houfe for the
Japanefe magillrate, who always refides there, which has
its garden ; for in all their great cities the Japanefe have a
particular magiftrate in ev^ery ftreet, who is called the ot-
tona ; and they look upon the ifland of Defima as nothing
more than a ftreet added to their city of Nangafaqui, and
therefore there is an ottona here as well as in other ftreets.
\ Voyage de Gautier Schouten, torn. ii. p. 118.
Another
no ConqueftSy Settlements ^ and Dtfcov^ies of
Another proof that this belongs abfoluteiy to the natives,
and is not at ail conveyed to the Dutch, is, that thefe laft
are obliged to pay a very high rent for their little wooden
houfes, to thole who were at the charge of building them
when the Portuguefe were fent thither. By this account
it is eafy to perceive, that it produces nothing ; and that
there is no room to plant any thing, if they were permit-
ted to take that trouble, which they are not, but are fur-
nifhed from day to day with Jill the neceffaries of life at a
very high price, and by fuch only as have this monopoly ^.
^he flr'iSi The Dutch refident in this ifland feldom exceed the
regulaiions number of forty-five ; and the Japanefe oblige them to
to nvhich change their chief every year, though, after he has been
cyUed to ahfent two years, the fame perfon may be fent again ; fo
Jubmttdur- that commonly there are three perfons who have this poll
tng their by wav of rotation, one reiident in the illand, another in
refidence j^jg paflage, and a third at Batavia, till his two years are
' ^^^* expired. On the whole, though the Dutch have taken all
the pains they can to make this place convenient, yet, in
fpite of their care, it is a very indifferent abode, and very
little refemblcs any of their other fettlements in the Eaft
Indies. They are alfo much reftrained in adding any
thing either to their houfes, magazines, or httle wharfs
for landing their goods, lince they cannot build, or make
the leaft alteration, without firil delivering a petition,
with a plan annexed, to the ottona, by whom it is
' tranfmitted to the governor ; fo that it is fometimes
a full year before they can obtain this permilhon ; and
even then there is an infpe6i:or appointed, to fee that ill
nothing they exceed their original plan. Such are the
reftraints to which thofe are liable that are left behind
in the Dutch fa<Piory j which renders their courfe of life
wnpleafant enough, little, if at all, better than remaining
' all that time in a prifon, and that too of a very narrow ex-
tent, whiere the inconveniences to which they are expofed
are many, and their amufements few. Let us now fee
how the new comers are treated upon the arrival of the an-
nual vcf?ell5. It mull be obfcrved, that no fliips fent thi-
ther mud have any figure whatever at their ftern, becaufe
the Japanefe, obferving that the Dutch have no images,
took it into their heads that they were placed there in de-
tifion of their idols, and therefore prohibited this cuftom
as an infult upon their religion'.
k Memoires fur Ic Commerce des Hollandois, p. 197. Me-
moires de Dr. Garcin. i Kaempfer, Chardin, Carron, Char-
levoix, Garcin,
The
the Dutch .in the Eaji Indies. iil
The very moment that the fhlps arrive in the road, the After 'what
governor fends feveral boats, filled vi'ith Japanefe, on board, mannsr the
who take all their cannon, fniall arms, fails, cordage, and ^^'^^AAJ
fpare anchors, into their pofleffion. The crews of thefe o«M^/><?«-
iliips are confined to the ifland, as well as the people of tering the
the fa(9:ory, unlefs they have a licence to go into the city, port,
and even this is reftrained to four at a time. The prices
of their goods are fet by the Japanefe direftors of trade,
as are likewife the prices of the goods they take in ex-
change, and fales are made when and how they pleafe. It
is true, they are allov/ed to fend the chief of their fac-
tory, with two or three attendants, to Jeddo, to the em-
peror ; but in their journey, they travel under the efcort
of a Japanefe guard, who will not fufFer them to make any
excurfions by the way, or to vifit any great lords. They
are under the fame or greater reftraints during the fliort
ftay they make at Jeddo, where they have little other bufi-
nefs than to deliver their prefents to the emperor, and to - -
particular princes and grandees of his court, to renew the
treaty of commerce ; which, being a thing of form, is
fpeedily difpatched ; and then they are ordered to return, .
having a guard about them, while they remain there, and
another to efcort them back ". Of all the reilric1:ions their
trade labours under, the Dutch are made moft uneafy by
their having the quantity of goods limited to the value of
three hundred and eighty thoufand taels, or one hundred
and thirty thoufand pounds fterling ; and of this therefore
they complained bitterly to the officers, and at laft to the
emperor himfelf. The Japanefe treated them, on this oc-
cafion, with great addrefs; they told them, that they
knew and underftood the thing to be an hardfhip ; infinu-
ated, that it did not proceed from any diffidence or difre-
fpeft, but was done purely to juftify the fame reflraint on
the Chinefe, the number of whofe junks increafed every
year; and, as there were frequently Tartars amongll
them, they could not help fufpe6ling that they might have
fome worfe defign than getting money by trade ; but, for
fear of bringing that evil upon themfelves which they were
labouring to avoid, they thought it neceflary to lay this re-
ftraint on the Dutch as well as the Chinefe ^y that the
latter might have the lefs reafon to complain.
They promifed likewife that this regulation fhould be
very tenderly executed, fo as to give the Dutch very little
^ L'Expedition de trois VaifTeaux, torn. ii. p. 207, 208, 209.
Memoires cle Dr. Garcin. ** Memoires fur le Commerce
des Hollandois, p. 195,
trouble j
112 ConqueJlSi Settlements y and Difcoveries of
trouble ; in which it is faid the Japanefe have been as good
as their words ; for, abating their particular cuftoms, and
the warmth with which they are attached to them, there
is no nation in the world more juft, more reafonable, or
even more civil to ftrangers. The Dutch took advantage
of this Itroke of policy at Japan to make a new regulation
of their own affairs, and a very wife one it was. They are
fenfible that people do not fettle in the Indies to make ob-
fervations in natural hiflory, but to acquire fortunes ; that
men fubmit to the hardfhips they endure for the fake of
purchafing future eafe ; and that the navigation in the feas
of Japan is commonly fo perilous, that it is but reafon-
able even the ordinary feamen fhould find an extra-
account in it. Upon thefe motives they have thus fettled
the commerce of Japan ; goods, to the value of three hun-
dred thoufand taels are fent on the company's account ;
and the other eighty thouliind is allowed in private trade,
in the following proportion ; forty thoufand taels on the
account of the governor-general and council at Batavia ;
ten thoufand on the account of the new chief, who goes
on board the fleet ; eight thoufand on account of the chief
who is to come home ; and twenty thoufand for the officers
and feamen J fo that every captain has eleven hundred taels
on his own account, and every feaman twenty. If any
of thefe people have not money to furnifli their fhare of
the cargo, it is either advanced on their wages, or they
are allowed to difpofe of their right to fuch as are richer
than themfelves. Thus every man is interefled in the
branch of trade in which he is employed, and finds his
private account in the puncrual difcharge of his duty °.
Jn defplte After their fales are over at their fadory, and the wind
cf all diffi- is fair for their return home, they have their cannon, fmall
f«//«^j and ^j-ms, fails, anchors, and rigging, reflored to them, and are
wenu^^fhL directed to depart without delay ; with which intimation
commerce is they arc obliged to comply. In their return they touch
jlUl'very again, towards the end of the month of December, at the
lucrawve jfl^nd of Poltimon, where formerly all the gold was put
Vnt!^^^^^ on board one fhip, that proceeded immediately for Bata-
^ via, while the refl continued their voyage to Malacca,
where an afTortment was made o/ the goods for the feveral
markets of the Indies ; but now the fhips return to Bata*
via. It is allowed that the commerce to Japan is not near
fo confiderable as it has been ; and it is likewife true, that
great lofles are frequently fuftained therein 5 but, after
^ •* Memoires de Dr. Garcin.
all.
the Dutch in the Eaji Indies. lij
all, It is ftlil of great confequence ; fo that, on the beft
computation that can be made, it produces annually to the
company better than five millions of guilders, or half a
million Iterling, exclufive of the great advantages tliat re-
fult from the diftribution of the effediS brought from Ja-
pan over all the Indies, which may perhaps amount to as
much more. Then we are to confider farther the profit
that arifes in Europe upon the goods that are acquired^ in
exchange for the commodities brought from Ja^an ; and
we are likewife to remember, that the Dutch have always
in view the recovery of their former privileges, and even
the exclufion of the Chinefe p.
SECT. XXV.
ji fuccinB View of the Dutch ReftdentJJjips throughout
the Indies, at Cheribon in the IJle of Java, in the
Kingdom of Siam^ and at Mocha in Arabia.
TTI7E come nov/ to the loweft rank of officers bearing fu- 'Tlie firjl
^^ preme command in the Dutch fettlements, and q^ f^/^y^ of an
thefe there are only three, who, notwithftanding th^yha^ve ^^^^[^"l
no higher title than that of refident, which is aSb given to ^e,it is fix-
thofe in the direction of all their fa6lories, yet thefe are ed at Che-
quite independent, as being appointed by, and having re- ^i^°"' "*
courfe to, the general and council at Batavia, without the \^fj^."f
leaft dependence on any governor, direftor, or chief what-
ever. The firft of thefe independent refidents commands
in the factory of Cheribon, on the coaft of Java, at the
diftance of forty-eight leagues from Batavia, where the
company carries on a very advantageous commerce in cof-
fee, cardamoms, indigo, and cotton. The land is as Jfer-
tile in rice, and other provifions, as perhaps any in the
world. It is of conHderable extent ; and the people who
inhabit it are under the dominion of four great lords, for-
merly ftyled pangerangs, that is, princes^ but now fottans ;
though their authority is not much extended in confe-
quence of their new titles. There is one of them who is
particularly called the company's fphan, becaufe he is al-
ways attached to the Dutch intereft. To fay the truth,
they might all four be very properly called fo, fmce they
p Di6^ionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 895, 896. Janigon
Etat prefentdc la Republique des Provinces-unies, torn. i. p. 380,
381.
Mod. Vol. IX. I ara
1 1^ Conquejls, Settlements^ and D'tfcov cries of
are under her protection, and delivered from all appre-
henfions from the king of Bantam, who was continually
at war with them ; and would have undoubtedly reduced
them long ago under his fubjedion, if the company had
hot aflifted them, and driven the Bantamefe out of their
territories ^. Thefe princes have fmce that time, as well
out of gratitude for favours paft, as in expeftation of pro-
tection for the time to come, granted the company great pri-
vileges in their dominions ; among the reft, that of erect-
ing a fort at Cheribon, where they have a garrifon of
Cxty men, as well as a faClory very well fituated, and in
perfect good order. About half a league from this fort
are the tombs of the princes of Cheribon, in a vaft temple
ereCted for that purpofe ; they are three ftories high, built
of various kinds of fine Hones. It is faid that thefe tombs
contain immenfe riches, which, though left unguarded,
they are in no apprehenfion fliould be carried away, from
a perfuaiion that they are protected in fome fupernatural
manner ; and report many inftances of perfons who have
droppefl down dead, on approaching the places where
thole riches are hid, with a thievifh intention. There was
formerly a very confiderable Englifh faCtory at Cheribon,
with a little town annexed to it; but the perfons belong-
ing to the factory intriguing with the natives wives, as the
Dutch fay, this fo provoked the people, that in one night's
time they maflacred them all, and dcftroyed the town V
It is not very improbable, if we could come at the truth of
this ftory, that they were put upon this cruel aCtian by
fome of their Chriftlan neighbours, to whom the refidence
of the Engliih in Java was an Intolerable eye-fore.
An account Before we quit this place, it will perhaps afford fome
of ^^^PT^' pleafure to the reader if we give him a diftlnCt account of
"^y?^ ^»A/^I ^ certain curious merchandize for which Cheribon is par-
are/omuch ticularly famous, and of which great quantities are fent
admired from thence to Batavla. I'hefe are the famous Indian
throughout blrds-nefts, which are eaten In fauces and foups, and which
the Indies, ^^^ commonly ranked amongft the greateft delicacies of
the table. The bird that builds thefe nefts is a kind of
fwallow J her head, breaft, and wings, of a fhlning beau-
tiful blue, and the body milk white. This bird builds in
mountainous and rocky places, fixing her neft, either by
the fide or by the bottom, to the folid ftone. It Is com-
pofed of a vifcous fubltance, and, when thoroughly dry,
<? I^'Expedition de trois VaifTeanx, torn, ii. p. 211. ' PlamiU
ton's Account of the Eaft Indies, torn. ii. p. 128.
is
the Dutch in the Eajl IndleL 1F5
iS in fome meafure tranfparent ; the colour commonly
white tinged with red, and nbw-and-then there are fpecks
of purple at the bottom '. It is of an oval fliape, about
an inch deep, and fomething more than three inches in
compafs, weighing about half an ounce. Some naturalifts
have reported, that the bird forms them with a kind of
glue difcharged from its own craw ; but it is now gene-
rally underftood from a kind of froth or foam flowing fronl
her own bill ; that (he brings the jelly out of fea-ftars,
and other fifties, and difpofes it gradually in rings one above
another, as is manifeft to the eye. When thefe nefls
came to be confidered as an Oriental luxury in food, they
are a very valuable commodity *, and vafl: quantities of
them are confumed over all the Indies, but more efpecially
iti China, and the adjacent countries. They are, Vv^hen
properly feafoned with fait and fpices, a very wholefome,
nutritive, and delicious jelly, either boiled in foup, or
eaten by themfelves in the manner of a ragout. Thefe
birds-nefts are fold at Batavia for eight or ten (hillings a
pound ^
Another refident has the direction of the company's The fecond
affairs in the kingdom of Siam, and has an affiitant or ^^Mtnt
book-keeper under him. The company carry on a very '^ ^^,^^ _
cbnfiderable trade here in tin, lead, elephants teeth, gums, perintend^
lack, wool, and other commodities. The king is a very enceofthe
formidable prince, his territories are near three hundred company^
leagues in extent, and he encourages all nations to trade ^j^^l"'
freely through his dominions. Ships, however, of any J^^^^ ^J*'
great burden, are obliged to come to an anchor at the di- siam»
ftance of thirty-fix leagues from his capital, becaufe the »
river Menan, upon which it ftands, is fo rapid, that they
could not warp up without great difficulty. This river,
like the Nile, and many others in the Indies, overflows
its banks at a certain feafon, fo that for half the year the
befl part of the country is under water, and for this reafon
the houfes are all built upon pofts ". The Dutch have
great privileges, and are confidered as the moft favoured
nation ever fince the great revolution, which happened at
Siam a little after the departure of the French ambaffadors ;
for the Dutch grew then into credit with the new kine, '
becaufe the Englifh were entrufled with the beft places in
the government, civil and military, by his predecefTor,
whom he had murdered. It was not therefore confident
with his policy to have any great correfpondence with a
•Voyage de Siam, p. 184, * Memoires de Dr. Garcin.
« Voyage de Siam, liv. vi.
I 2 nation
Il6 ' ConqueJlSi Settlements ^ and ■ Difcoveries of
nation that he knew was not well aiFedled to his title#
The favour he fhewed the Dutch became a rule to his fue-
ceflbrs, and they have been very much carefled ever fmce w.
They have a factory about a mile below the city of Siam,
on the fide of the river, which enables them to collect
great quantities of deer-fkins, which are annually fent to
Japan; and this commerce, together with that of tin,
which they have exclufively, and of which there is great
abundance, makes the company take more pains to oblige
the king of Siam than moft of their neighbours. The
Siamefe themfelves are much addicted to trade, and the
Chinefe who refide there much more, fo that they annu-r
ally fend (hips to Japan ; a circumftance which, the diffi^
culty of the navigation confidered, is not a little extraor-
dinary. They boall of having had the ufe of the compafs
above one thoufand years before it was difcovered in Eu-
rope ; but the Jefuits have obferved, that the compafs
with them, as with the Chinefe, is very imperfedl ^.
Mocha is -A-t Mocha, on the coafl of Arabia, the third refidency
ike feat of is fixed, where the refident is always a merchant, who
the third ji^g under him two book-keepers as affiftants. This coun-
^th E^R* ^^y ^^ under the government of an Arab prince, who has
hidia com- ^^ ^^^^^ of immaum, or k'lngy and who refides at a place two
pauy's f^f' hundred miles call from Mocha. The fea-port of his domi-f
ntU€, nions was formerly Aden •, but that being inconvenient, he
removed it fifteen leagues farther to Mocha, which was then
but a fifhing-town. It is fuuated clofe to the fea, in a large,
dry, fandy plain, that affords not either fruits or water,
except what is fo brackifli and unwholfome, that fuch as
are forced to drink it have long Vv'orms bred by it in their
legs and feet, which are equally troublefome and danger-
ous J^. They are fupplied, however, with very good wa-
ter from Mofa, at the diftance of twenty miles, which
coming by land-carriage, is as dear to the inhabitants as
fmall beer is in England. The town of Mocha, notwith^
ftanding this great inconvenience, is large, 'indifferently
fortified, and makes a fine appearance from the fea.
Their markets are well furnifhed with provifions, fuch as
beef, mutton, lamb, and kid, camel and antelopes, flcfli,
common fowls, Guinea, bens,, partridges, aHd pigeons ^.
The fea affords variety of fifh, but not well tafled, a
circumftance which proceeds from the extreme falt-
nefs of the water, and the nature of their aliment. The
-w Diflionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 804, 805. ^ Me-
moires fur le Commerce dts Hollandois, p. 197. / Geographie
Moderne, par .Abraham tiu Bois, p. 613. » Hamilton's Account
of the Eafl Indies, vol. i. p. 41— 43.
town
the Dutch In the Eaft Indks. l i ^
town IS well furnifhed all the year round with good fruits,
fuch as grapes, peaches, apricots, and quinces, of which
they make marmalade, both for their own ufe and export-
ation ; though near the town there is not a tree or fhrub to
be feen, but a few date-trees, and they feldom have more
than two or three Ihowers of rain in a year ; and often no
rain falls for two or three years together. But amongft th«
imountains, about twenty miles off, feldom a morning pafles
■without a moderate fliower, which makes tl^e vallies very
fertile in fruit and corn, fuch as the foil will bear ; but
they have no rice, though plenty of barley and wheat.
Since the immaum made Mocha the chief port of his do-
minions, and a free port, it is become a place of great
trade ; for, befides the Dutch faftory, and one belonging
to the Englifli Eaft India company, they trade with the
Portuguefe, Banyans, and Moors ; and veflels from Baflbrah,
Perfia, and Muikat in Arabia Petrsea. The country of
itfelf produces few valuable commodities befides coffee,
and fome drugs, fuch as myrrh, olibanum, or frankin-
cenfe from Cofhn, and aloes Soccotrina from Soccotra, li-
quid ftorax, white and yellow arfenic, fome gum arable,
and mummy, with fome balm of Gilead that comes down
the Red Sea « (L).
We
a Gvington*s Voyage to Surat, p. 460, 4€i. Hamilton's Account
of the Eaft Indies, vol. i. p. 44, 45.
(L) During the feafon, about ducats in gold, which is to be
one hundred veflels, from dif- underllood barely of what is
ferent parts of the world, ar- entered at the cuftom-houfe,
rive at Mocha. The trade by and which thofe who are well
land is alfo very confiderable, verfed in fuch kind of com-
which commences about three putations efteem to be above
weeks before the fliips come in, one half of the fpecie that
^nd continues for a month or comes in this way. Thefe ca»
iive weeks after. This arifes ravans bringlikevvifevaft quan-
from the two caravans from tities of velvets, fattins, armo-
Aleppo and Suez, which are feens, cloths of^old, camblets,
rarely compofed together of lefs fine cloths, fatlron, mercury,
than a thoufand camels; and vermillion, and other goods,
which are never fiyled rich, if as well of Europe as of the Le-
the ready money they bring vant (i). The royal vefrel,a3
does not exceed two hundred it is called, from Suez, has it?
thoufand pieces of eight in fil- cargo c'ompofed of much the
ver, and a hundred thoufand fame kind of merchandize with
(i) Meraoires de I)r. darcin. ^
I 3 ihe
ii3 Conquefts, Settlements ^ and Difcoveries of
AJucclnSi Wc may difcern what a prodigious advantage j^rifes
account of from the pofleffion of any fmgle commodity, which either
the coffee fj-oni art or nature derives a degree of excellence not to be
managedin attained any where elfe. The coffee-trade brings in a
that part, continual fupply of filyer and gold from Europe and Afia 5
in a man- for it is a point fettled here, that, notwithftanding other
tier exclu' goods and merchandize may be bought and fold on credit
^^ ^* for a certain time, coffee is always bought for ready mor
ney ''. The Europe (hipping lade yearly at Mocha about
twenty thoufand tons, rather more than lefs ; and the
other nations about the fame quantity. The whole pro-
vince of Betlefackee is planted with coffee-trees, which
are never fuffered to grow above four or five feet high,
and the bean or berry grows on the branches or twigs,
firil green, then red, at lafi: a dark-brown coJour. The
berries cling to the branches like fo many infects, and
when they are ripe they ihake off. The Dutch have here,
as in moll other places in the Indies, a great advantage
over other nations, by their being poffeffed of the mono-
poly of fpices, of which great quantities are confumed ;
and this confequently enables them to come at coffee at
much eafier rates than their neighbours : but this trade of
theirs at Mocha is continually finking on account of the
vaft quantities of coffee cultivated in their own colonies,
efpecially at Batavia, Amboyna, and the Cape of Gooei
^ D16lionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 701, 702. Hiftoire de§
' , Indcs Orierttales, par Guyon, torn, ii, p. 422, 423. L'Expeditioa
de trois Vaiffeaux, torn. ii. p. 21S,
the caravans, but is commonly vafl quantities of Indian gpod$
richer in filver, as having rare- that are brought from all parts,
ly lefs on board than forty even China and Japan; to
thoufand pieces of eight ; but which we muft alfo add coffee,
this is not the cafe with refpe£t as a very confiderable article to
to gold, of which that fliip has thefe traders, as well as the
rarely above fifty thoufand du- mofl confiderable one with re-
cats. All this is left behind ; fpe6t to the Europeans, who
and in return they purchafe bring likewife prodigious fums
feme Arabian cloth, incenfe, in fpecie, of which itis thought
jnyrrh, ambergrhe, and per- that the Dutch bring the leaft,
tumes of all forts, precious on account of their fpices, and
flones, more efpecially pearls fome othercommodities, whicl^
and cornelians, aloes, balm, come here to a very good mar^
calfia, dragons-blood, gum ara- ket (2},
][)ic, and other drugs ; as alfo
{[*) HiHoire des Indes OiientaleS; par Guyon, vol. iij. p. 40$.
Hope;
the Dutch In the Eafl Indies, 1 1 9
Hope •, thougli there is, after all, no comparlfon between
the flavour of the coffee raifed in their own plantations
and that which is brought from Mocha •=.
We have now run through the whole circle of the com- Motrn/es
merce carried on by the Dutch Eafl India company in 'tfjf^ich
thofe parts of the world where they liave any eflablifh- f^^J^L
ments ; and it only remains to fay fomethingof two places Dutch
with which though they have fome correfpondence, yet Eaft Iniiia
they have no fettlement in either. The firft of thefe is company to
the great ifland of Borneo, which in point of extent isy^^^'
without queftion the largefl in the Indies, and, as many -^-^ Borns(i%
believe, in the known world. Some writers fay that it is
fix hundred leagues in circumference ; but the Dutch tell
us that it is not quite fo extenfiVe ^, It is divided into
abundance of little fovereignties, of the princes of which
the mofl powerful is the king of Banjaar MafTeen, and
after him the princes of Borneo and Sambas. The air of
this ifland is reckoned very unwholefome, an inconveni-
ence occafioned by the country's being low in fome places,
and marfhy. On this account it is but thinly peopled,
though it abounds in very rich commodities. When the
Dutch firfl fettled in the Eafl Indies, they were extreme-
ly folicitous about eflablifhing their faftories in Borneo ;
and accordingly they fixed them at the city of that name,
at Sambas, and at Succadano ; but they foon found, by
the repeated plunder of their fettlements, and the maliacre
of all that were in them, that there was no fuch thing as
dealing with the inhabitants, who are certainly, if their
relations be true, the bafefl, cruellefl, and mofl perfidious
people in the world ^. The Dutch therefore quitted the
ifland ; and, though invited thither feveral times fince,
have abfolutely refufed to return ; though they fend (hips
occafionally, and manage with great caution ; but, for the
mofl part, they leave that people to come and feek Euro-
pean commodities at Batavia, or to purchafe them at fe-
cond-hand from the Chinefe who trade thither, and to
Borneo alfo ; their natural diffidence fecuring them from
this innate fpirit of fraud and cruelty which reigns amongft
thefe treacherous iflanders *".
c See the article of Coffee In Dr. James's Diflionarv, towards the
beginning. d Voyage de la Comuagnie des Iiides Orif ntaies,
tcm. ii. p. 357. e Pi^ionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 870,
Zii. fMemoires fur !e Commerce des Hollandois, p. ao..
^'Expedition de trois VaifTeaux, p. 219, aio.
I 4 There
120
Conquefls, Settlements^ and Dlfcoverles of
the Chinefei
Other Eu- There is not now any European fettlement in the whole
rcpean ifland, and yet the commerce of Borneo confifts in as rich
tiadons be- goods as any in all the Indies. At Samdas and Succadana
tng of t.te ^j^gy ^^^j jj^ diamonds, of which tkere is a mine in the
tke^com- * heart of the country. Thefe ftones are generally from
merceisre- four to twenty-four carats, and there are fome found of
averted to thirty and forty carats ; but the whole trade does not
amount to above fix hundred carats in a year. They
always fell thefe flones for gold^ though that likewife is
the commodity of the iiland, and though there is a very
tonfiderable trade for gold-duft carried on at Pahang, Saya,
Calantan, Setibas, Catra, and Melanouha. Bezoar of the
finefl fort is another article in their trade, not at all infe-
rior in its value to the former =. Sapan wood, fine wax,
and feveral rich gums, are alfo met with there ; but, c;fter
all, the ftaple commodity of the whole ifland is pepper,
of which there is as much and as good as in almoll any
part of the Indies. Before the Poirtuguefe difcovered a
paffage to the Indies by the Cape of Good Hope, the
Chincfe were in pofTeflion of all the trade of this ifland ;
and, fince the Europeans have declined fettling there, it is
again, at leail: in a great meafure, fallen into their hands.
The places where they are fettled, befides Banjaar Mafleen,
are Mafnpua, Teya, Lando, and Sambos, where they
carry on a very extenfive commerce, and furnifti the in^
habitants in return with filks, chintz, callicoes, and in
fhort all the manufactures of China ^ and Japan.
It has been fuggcfted, and with great fiiew of reafon,
that a more valuable trade might be eftabliflied in this
ifland of Borneo than in any part of the Eaft Indies, be-
caufe there arrive annually large fleets of China junks laden
diciousper- with all the commodities of that empire, which might be
fonst that a purchafed as cheap or cheaper than even in China. There
tllllTZlld ^^^^ likewife annually from the ifland of Celebes fmall
be<ve>y ad- veflels, which, in fpite of the vigilance of the Dutch, bring
lijantage- confiderable quantities of cloves, nutmegs, and other
^^i' fpices ', v/hich is the true reafon that the Dutch are not
able to put off any great quantities of thefe goods in their
trallick with the inhabitants: yet fometimes they fend
fhips hither to load with pepper, and endeavour to keep
up a good correfpondence with the kings of Borneo and
Sambas ; for, as to the king of Banjaar, he has long ago
Reclined having any thing to do with them. Some, who
// IS ho'W'
ever the
prevailing
opinion
among ju»
« Memo) res de Dr. Garcin.
tpm. li. col. 87 X.
Di(Sliouaire de Commerce,
are
the Butch in the Eafi Indies. 121
are very well acquainted with the prefent ftate of things in
the Ealt Indies, look upon the Dutch as very much oblig- .
ed to the inhabitants of this great illand for the care they
take in maintaining the ancient reputation of their an-
ceflors for cruelty and perfidioufnefs, but above all for
their copying them exactly in preferring jQoth and eafe
above all things *, fince, with the alFiftance of common
fenfe, common honefty, and common induflry, they might
make themfelves the greatell, richeft, and moft refpe£led,
people in Alia ; there being good grounds to believe that
there is full as much gold to be found here as in Sumatra ;
and ftill better authority for attributing what themfelves
fay of their correfpondence with the inhabitants of the
Celebes to their fear of the Dutch, the moft intelligent
perfons being perfuaded that the mace, nutmegs, and
cloves, they fell to the Chinefe, are adlually the growth of
their own ifland ^
The other place, to which the Dutch company trades ^^^ Dutch
but little diredlly, is Canton, the only port in the empire ^^J^^^X^
cf China where ftrangers are allowed a free trade •, and cUous^mm
one would imagine the Dutch might have as much inch- mpry cool,
nation, and to the full as much ability, to trade there, as about a
any other people. We have feen that in former times correfpon-
they were very defirous of a ftri£l: and conftant correfpon- ^^"^^ '"'^^
dence with the inhabitants of that rich and great empire;
and, fo long as they were mafters of the ifland of Formofa,
they carried on a dire61: trade thither to very great profit.
After the fetting up of the Oftend company, the Dutch did
indeed fend (hips thither dire6lly from Holland ; * but,
whether the trade did not turn to account, or whether
they were influenced by fome other fecret reafons, it has
been in a great meafure difcontinued.
That the Dutch do notafl^^dl: any fettlement in this em- Tnuofro-
pire, may be very well accounted for from the two follow- babk mo-
ing caufes. The firfl is, that, being at fo great a diftance ^^^'^^J^^
from Batavia, and in a country where it is eafy to confign ^H^^i^^'
their efFecSbs to Portuguefe, Englifh, and other foreign /^^;> ^.^^
merchants, the officers mind their own concerns more than duS.
the company's, of which a convincing proof has been had
by the Portuguefe vending their pepper at a greater advan-
tage than the Dutch, though they bought it at a high
price at Batavia. But the fecond caufe is ftill more im-
portant : there Is a prodigious trade carried on by the
I L'Expedition <!e trois Vaifleaux, torn. ii. p. 221. Ilami'ton's
Account of the Eaft Indies, vol. ii. p. 146, 1,^7.
Chinefe
12 2 Conqueftsy Settlements^ and Difcoveries of
Chinefe to Batavia, which, though it is a voyage of feven
hundred leagues, the Chinefe make in their junks in the
fpace of fix weeks, failing from Canton in the beginning
of December, and arriving in the rniddle of January ^.
The company, in the firft place, have a duty of four per
cent, on all the goods they bring, which are gold, filks of
all forts, tea, annifeed, mufk, rhubarb, copper, quick-
filver, Vermillion, china-ware, &c. for which they receive
in exchange lead, tin, pepper, incenfe, camphor, cloves,
nutm.egs, amber, and abundance of other things, on all
which the Dutch fet their own prices, and confequently
buy much cheaper than other nations can purchafe the
fame goods in China. They have alfo found by experi-
ence, that a direct trade between Holland and China
leflens very nmch this more profitable commence at Bata-
via. Neither is it there only that they have an opportu-
nity of dealing with the Chinefe, but in many other parts
of the Indies, where, when the Chinefe merchants have
completed their fales to the natives, they are very glad to
part with the remainder of their commodities, at a very
eafy rate, to the Dutch K Thus it clearly appears, that
the Eaft India company are able to fend home vail quan-
tities of China goods, without carrying on a dire6l trade
with that coi^ntry either from Holland or Batavia.
SECT. XXVL
An ample Detail of the Government gradually fettled hy
the Company in the Indies, in reJpeSi to their Civile
Military y Commercial^ and Ecdejtaftical Eftablifh'
ments.
The form W/"^ ^^^ ^^^^ *° ^^^ ^" ^^'^^ manner the government
and method of the Indies is adminiftered, and how the depen-
0/ i/ie com- denct is prefervcd between the fupreme council, to
^anfs ad' which the ultimate dire£lion of the company's affairs is
Tninifira' ^^^^^^^^ ^.^^ ^^^^ numerous train of oflicers honoured
Indies, and with fuch a variety of titles, vefted with fuch different
in Europey powers, and refiding in places at fo vafl a diflance as the
equally cw coafls of the Red Sea, and the failory of Japan, are from
rtous and ^^iq feat of government at Batavia. We Jiave feen, from
to the per- , tt i. i • t »!-.
feSi knonv' Memoires fur le Commerce des Hollandois, p. '. co, aoi, L Ex-
ledgeof this pedition lie trois Vaifleaux, torn. ii. p. 2x2, 223. * Haipilfon'S
iubjea. Account of the Eaft Xiidie?/ vol. ii. p, 239, 240.
the
the Dutch In the Eaft Indies, 123
the hlftory of this company, the fteps by which it rofe, the
prudence with which every fair opportunity was managed
to the bell advantage, the dexterity and addrefs with
which imminent dangers were avoided, the great fagacity,
and manifold precautions, by which threatened mifchiefs
were prevented, in confequence of their being forefeen ;
and hence the furprize at their acquiring fo vaft an empire,
nnd in fo fhort a time, is taken away. But, when all this
is done, there feems to be an equal ground for admiration
left, how fuch a dominion fhould be maintained.
All the dominions which the company pofleiies in the Of the tivB
Eaft Indies are governed by two fupreme councils, one jupreme
ftyled the council of the Indies, and the other the council ^^""^"{ ^'
of juftice. They are both fixed in the city of Batavia, as '
the capital of their dominions. To thefirft of thefe coun-
cils belong all matters of government, and the dire6lion
of public affairs ; and to the latter the adminiftration of
juftice in all its branches. The governor-general prefides
in the firft council, which is compofed of eighteen or
twenty perfons, who are called counfellors in ordinary of the
Indies. It very rarely happens that they are all at Batavia
together, becaufe they are ufually provided with fome or
other of the feven governments which are in the com-
pany's difpofal. This council aflembles regularly twice a
week ; and extraordinarily, as often as the governor-
general pleafes. They, deliberate on all things that con-
cern the intereft of the company : they likewife fuperintend
the government of the ifle of Java, and whatever depends
upon it. 'If the affair be of very great importance, the
confent of the dire£lors of the company is likewife necef-
fary. It is alfo from the council of the Indies that orders
ilTue, and inftru£lions are fent, to other governments,
which are implicitly obeyed. In this council all letters
direfted to the governor-general, or to the direftor, are
read, debated, and anfwers agreed on by a pluraHty of
voices ".
The council of juftice is compofed of a prefident, who EfahUJb'
is ufually a counfellor of the Indies, eight counfellors of f^f^nt ot the
juftice, a fifcal, or attorney-general, for affairs of govern- ^^**^^^ tts
ment, another fifcal for maritime bufinefs, and a fecretary. l^^r^-f.*
The prefident is, by his office, keeper of the great feal ; iJo„^ and
on which is reprefented a great caftle, in the midft oi principal
which is Juftice, with her ballance and fword, with this members J
" Bafnage Defcription Hiftorique du Governement des Provinces-
Hnies, cap. xxxvii.
infcription
124 Conquejlsy Settlements^ and DIfcoveries of
inf€ri|)tiort round it, namely, " The Seal of the Council
of Juftice in the Citadel of Batavia." All the counfellors
of this college are doctors of the civil law. The firft at-
torney-general has a vote^ as well as the other counfellors,
and has the third of all fines under a hundred florins,
and a fixth part of the fines above that fum. The duty of
his office confifls in taking care that the laws are ftri£^ly
obferved, and in preferring informations againft fuch as
break through them. The other attorney-general, or fifcal
of the izo-y takes the like care with regard to frauds com-
mitted in commerce, acls of piracy, or whatever has a
tendency to difturb the fettled rules in maritime affairs ".
There are, befides thefe two fovereign boards, the council
or tribunal of the city of Batavia, entrufted with the fole
adminiftration of this colony; which is compofed of nine
aldermen, including the prefident, who is always a coun-
fellor of the Indies, and a vice-prefident ; the bailiff of the
city, and the commifiary of the country adjacent, have
likewife feats in that affembly, and, with the fecretary^
make up the board ^,
A hind of The governor general, as the head of the empire which
frionarchi the com.pany has eflablifiied in the Eaft Indies, is in fa6t
^^d^hi^^d t^€ ft^^^^^oi^ei"* captain-general, and admiral. He is, by
tn the SO' ^^^ office, prefident of the council of the Indies, in which
<vernor and he has two votes. He has the key of all the magazines,
taptain- and direfts every thing relating to them, without being
g^>'^f^j^^ pf accountable to any body. He commands by his proper
authority, and every body is bound to obey him ; fo that
one might fafely fay, this authority equalled that of feveral
kings in Europe, if he was not anfwerable to, 'and liable
to be removed by, the directors of the company at home.
In cafe, however, of treafon, or any other enormous crime,
the council of juflice h^ve a right 1(5 feize his perfon-, and
to call him to an account. When a governor-general is
dead, or refigns his charge, the council of the Indies chufe
another, by a plurality of voices. As foon as this is done,
they write to the diredlors of the company at home, defir-
ing them to coi^firm and approve of their choice : they like-
wife write for the fame purpofe to the States General, their
High Mightineffes having referved to themfelves this pow-
er of confirming or excluding a governor-general, by their
charter. It is ufual, however, for the States, and for
^ Janigon Etat prefent de la Republique des Provinces-unies,
torn. i. p. 354» 355, 356, o Relation de la Ville de Batavia,
par Nicholas de Graaf.
the
the Dutch in the Eafi Indies, 1 25
the dire£lors, to approve of the 'governor-general that is
chofen, and to fend him his letters patent, conformable
to the dcfire of the council of the Indies p.
The company allow their governor eight hundred rix- Court and
dollars a month, and five hundred more for his table and rnagnifi-
pay, befide the falaries of fuch as compofe his houfhold, ^^.'^^^ °^
But thefe appointments make but a very fmall part of his f^m.^r,
revenue, the legal emoluments of his office being fo great,
that, in the fpace of tvi^o or three years, he is able, with-
out opprelfing the people, or burdening his confcience, to
raife an immenfe fortune. As he is in a m^anner fovereign
of the dominions belonging to the company, it has been
found requifite, in compliance with the mode of the
eaftern countries, to allow him a court, and moft of thofe
honours which are paid to crowned heads. Whenever he
ilirs out of his palace, to go to his country-feat, he is pre-
ceded by the mailer of his houfliold, at the head of fix
gentlemen on horfeback, with a trumpet ; two halber-
diers on horfeback go immediately before his coach ; on
the right he has his mafter of the horfe,.at the head of
fix halberdiers, on horfeback ; then follow the other
coaches, which carry his friends and retinue ; and the
\trhole is clofed by a troop of horfe, confifting of forty-
eight men, commanded by a captain and three quarter-
mailers, and preceded by a trumpet, richly cloathed^,
Ifthis-oflice be extremely confiderable by its revenues,
its power, and the honours annexed thereto, it is like-
wife extremely fatiguing. The governor-general is em-
ployed, from morning till night, in giving audience to
fuch as have bufinefs with him, in reading letters, and
giving orders for the company's fervice j fo that he fpares
but one half hour for dinner, and even at table difpatches
fuch affairs as a^e preffing \ He alfo receives all the In-
dian princes and their ambafladors who come to Batavia,
and of t>hefe there are many that arrive every year, and
gjre received according to a fettled ceremonial.
After the governor, the dire£lor-general has the greateft ^'^'^ '^^'''^^- '
authority, and is the fecond perfon in the council of the '^''■^^'^''^'y*
Indies. This employment demands likewife a great deal of qfficerTn
care and attention, and he who is invefled with it has the the com-
buying and felling all the commodities that enter into, or panfsfer'
vice, the
p L'Expedition de trois VaifTeaux, torn. ii. p. 76, 77. 1 Jani- ^'?^"^ °^
9on Etat prefent de la Repubiique des Provinces-unies, torn. i. "^^W^^-
p- 359 r L'Expedition de troii Vaifleaux, torn. ii. p. 79.
Voyage de Siam, p. J 52, 153.
126 Conquejis^ Settlements^ and Htfcovmes of
go out of the company's magazines. He orders what forts^
and what quantity of each fort of goods (hall be fent to
Holland or elfewhere. He has the key of all the maga-
zines, and every officer in the company's fervice makes a
daily report to him of the flate of every thing under his
charge. In a word, he has the fupreme management of
whatever relates to the company's commerce, as well at
Batavia as at other places ; and the members of all the
fadlories belonging to the company are accountable to
him for their condud): in their refpeAive ftations. He haS
his fet hours of bufmefs as well as the governor-general,
when thcfe who are under his infpeftion are to attend ;
and in both cafes thefe are not forms, but rules which
are not to be difpenfed with •, and it is by their ftrift ad-
herence to thefe that all things are kept in fuch perfect
order, and that the neceflary bufinefs of the company
does not fwell by negle£l:s into fuch a bulk as begets per-
plexity and confufion. Befides, the examples of thefe
great officers have a powerful and general effe6l ; fome
are affiamed, and all are afraid, to be lefs affiduous in
their refpeclive charges than thofe great men who are at
the head of affairs K
Ofthepoji The third perfon in the government is the major-gene-
9f major, ral, who, under the governor, has the command of all
the forces. The regular troops in the conflant fervice of
the company, even in time of peace, are in number about
twelve thoufand men, exclufive of their militia in their
refpeflive governments, which are kept in very good
order, and under an exa6l difcipline, amounting in the
whole to at leaft one hundred thoufand. The military
eftablifhment is much the fame throughout the Indies as
in the United Provinces ; the troops in the company's fer-
vice being as regularly paid, and well difciplined, as thofe
in Holland. The firft officer in command in time of
peace has, {lri6):ly fpeaking, no higher rank than that of
major, under 'whom are captains, lieutenants, and en-
iigns ; but when the troops are in the field, the lieute-
nants and enfigns are at the head of companies, the cap-
tains lead brigades, and the major, a6ling as major-ge-
neral, commands in chief ^
* Jani9on Etat prefent de la Republique des Provinces-unies,
torn. i. p. ^563. L'Expedition de trois Vaifleaux, tom. ii. p. 79, 80.
t Bafaage Dercription hiftoiique d^x Governement des Provinces-
unies, chap, xxxvii. Journal du Voyage de Siam, par i'Abbe Choify,
p. 87.
The
the Dutch in the Eaft Indies, llj
The natives of the country are under their own officers, Thejiaie '
who are capable of rifing to the rank of a captain, but no of the mi^
higher. The burgefles of Batavia choofe alfo their own '^^'^
officers, as high as captains of horfe and foot ; they are \^°^J^^
under the command of a colonel, who is alfo one of the (grritQrieu
counfeJIors of the Indies, and at the fame time prefidentof
the council of war. By virtue of thefe regulations all the
company's fettlements are kept in a conftant (late of de-
fence at a far lefs charge, and without any of thofe incon-
veniences that muft naturally attend the keeping in their
fervice a number of officers with fuperior titles, the pay
of whom, generally fpeaking, makes one third of our mi-
litary eftabliffiments. At the fame time care is taken
that all the crops, as well of militia as of regular troops,
are kept always complete and fit for fervice ; fo that on
any emergency there is a conftant force at hand, which
may be relied upon, more efpecially confidering, that in
every fettlement there is one or more good fortrefles, tho-
roughly fupplied, and in excellent repair, which confe-
<|uently is in no danger of being taken before competent
fuccours can be received from Batavia ; and this difpofition
of things is one of the mod effential points in the com-
pany's fyftem of politics".
The maritime power of this potent fociety confifls of Of ike ma*
about one hundred and eighty fhips, from thirty to fixty ^'^^^^^
guns, with about twelve or thirteen thoufand officers and ^/j]^^om-
feamen in conftant pay •, and, in cafe of neceffity, they pany in the
are always able to equip, in a few weeks, at Batavia, Indies,
forty fail of larger fhips, which they could man without
any difficulty. This great naval force is regulated on the
fame foot, and according to the fame maxims, as the mi-
litary eftablifliment ; that is, there are no officers wanting
neceflary to the prefervation of good difcipline, nor are
there any honoured with high titles merely to fecure
large appointments, without any benefit to the ftate. The
whole fleet is under the direction of one officer, who has
the modelt title of commander, or commodore ; he has
ynder him a vice-commander; and, belides thefe, there
are no flag officers, but every captain has the command of
his ffiip. When their veflels are in the harbour of Bata-
via, the captains are obliged to repair every morning to
the commander, or commodore, in order to make report
to him of the flate of their vefTels, and to receive his or-
ders; yet even this commander does nothing of confe-
« ^.'Expedition de trois Vaifleaux, torn. ii. p. 8i.
quence
128
Of their
ecclefiajii-
€al eflab-
lijbment.
Unity in
religion one
ef the com-
pany's in-
dtffen/ablt^
maxims of
govern-
ment.
Conquejts^ Settlements^ and Dlfcoverles of
quence without the confent and approbation of the gover-
nor-general, to whom in fa£l all the officers of the com-
pany, civil, miHtary, and marine, are accountable*, and
whofe authority in this refpe61: is as abfolute as the nature
of his command, and the fervice in that diftant part of the
world requires, in order to prevent fa6tious cabals or
confederacies, which would be highly prejudicial to the
fervice ^.
The ecclefiaftical government at Batavia confifts gene-
rally of eleven perfons, all minifters of the reformed, or
prefbyterian religion, five for the two Dutch churches in
the city, and that in the citadel, befides the minifter that
refides in the ifland of Onroofl, three Portuguefe minif-
ters, and tv/o Malayans. The five laft are Dutchmen by
birth, as well as the former, though they preach in the
Portuguefe and Malayan tongues. And as it is neceflary
that the ftate fhould be well informed of whatever pafTes
amongft their clergy when they meet together, the eleventh
perfon is a deputy on the part of the government, who is
to fee that they preach or pra6life nothing prejudicial to
the civil government, or inconfiftent with thofe laws
which the company has prefcribed. Befides thefe minif-
ters, the confiftory is compofed of eight elders and twenty
deacons. One great branch of their bufinefs is to fend
minifters into other governments, where, after a certain
term of years, they are relieved, and return to Batavia or
to Holland, to enjoy in peace the fruits of their labours.
Sometimes a preacher has been known to make fo good
ufe of his time, that, on his return, he has bought a
noble fief, and, of a pallor, immediately became a man
of quality \
In other little places they have no ordinary minifi;er,
but one is fent regularly every three or four years to bap-
tize, marry, and give the Lord's Supper •, which is fa
much the more necefTary, becaufe the fynods have taken
a refolution not to permit any religion but the reformed
to make any progrefs in the dominions of the Eafl India
company. The Lutherans, for a long fpace of time, have
warmly folicited for a church at Batavia, but have been
conftantly refufed it, though certainly their demand was
rfeafonable, efpecially in a place wfiere Mohammedans
V Jan'^on Etrit prefent de la Republique des Provinces-unies,
torn. i. p. 364. L'Expedition de trois Vaifleaux, torn. ii. p. iii, ua,
J13. X Bali. age Defcription Hiltorique du Gouvernement des
Provinces-unies, chap, xxxviit L'Expedition de trois Vaifieaux,
lorn, 11. p« 105, io6,
and
the Butch in the Eaft Indies. 129
fend Pagans are freely tolerated in their religion, and even
the Chinefe, who worfhip the devil himfelf. This eccle-
fiaflical council have alfo dependent upon tKem the con-
folators of the fick, fchoolmafters, and catechifts. Of
thefe laft the comp^iy have a great many in their fervice
on board their fhips, whofe duty it is to fay prayers con-
flantly every day, and to inftrucSt fuch as embrace the
Chriftian religion. Thefe <:atechifts are for tjie molt part
natives of the country ; and as they fpeak feveral lan-
guages, they are better enabled to give the neceflary in-
ftruftions, and to teach the confeffion of faith to fo many
different nations, who, after being converted and baptized,
are to receive the communion. For the better preferva-
tion of uniformity, there is an annual vilitation, with
great pun£luality and decorum, made by the miniiters
amonglt all the new converts, when they fail not to make
ilri£l enquiries, and to root out, as foon as poffible, all
new opinions y.
In confequence of thefe regulations, the reformed re- The num^
liglon makes a great progrefs, efpeciaily among the Ne- ^er of
groes, of whom hundreds at a time have demanded bap- ^^rmans
tifm ; which, however, is not rafhly granted, fince all are j.^^ j^ ^^^y
obliged to be well inftru6led, and to be able to make their confider-
confelTion of faith, before it is beftowed ; and in this able, and
particular the Dutch are fo ftri^t, that they do not dif- '^^^b ^«-
penfe even with princes and princeffes. It is well enough ^^^^J^^S*
known, that the Chinefe are fo obllinately addicted to
their great Confucius, as not to be over-ready to embrace
any other feligion *, yet there are from time to time fome
of them who abjure their idolatry, and embrace the
Proteftant faith. In all the eight governments there are
many fchools erefted and fupported at the expence of the
company ; as for inftance, there were near one hundred
in the iiland of Ceylon in the year 1720 *, and it was then,
computed, that the company had three hundred eighty
five thoufand Chriftian fubje^ts in that country only 5 but
fome of thefe were of the Romifh communion, and con-
fequently were not permitted the open exercife of their
religion ; and in Amboyna, and the adjacent iflands, they
have ninety thoufand fubjeds, of which at lealt the third
part, are Chriftian s ^.
y Voyasjes de Nicolas de Graaf, p. 536, 337. L'Expedition de
trois Vaifleaux, torn. ii. p, 109, no. z Memoiresde Dr. Garcin»
L'Expedition de trois Vaifleaux, torn. ii. p, iiq.
Mod. Vol. IX. K ^t
130
Ihe chafK'
hit of or-
phans at
Bata'uia.
In ivhat
manner
pranjifion is
made for
the poor*
Excellence
of thefe
fro'vijions.
Conquefts, Settlements, and Difcoveries of
At Batavia, and in all other governments, they have a
chamber of accounts for orphans, in which there is a
prefident, who has for his council half the company's
fervants, of the quality of copemen and upper copemen,
and half of the beft burghers, befides a fecretary, and
other afiiftants. They fit once a week, in order to ma-
nage or difpofe of all eflates belonging to orphans, or
abfent heirs.
If a perfon dies leaving a will, and does not give fuch
a proportion of his eftate to his children as the law re-
quires, they will not allow the will, but require their full
part for the children. If a man dies in the company's
fervice, and they owe him wages, the chamber receives
them, and enters the fum to the credit of the deceafed.
By thefe wife regulations, and by a ftri£l adherence to
them, the company has obtained great reputation ^
The company, befides one third of their half of the
fifcal's confifcation, allow alfo fines on offences, and the
confifcations of the efi:ates of men executed, for the ufe
of the poor. There are many overfeers and mafl:ers of
the poor at Batavia. At Policat they have but two, and
thofe not mafters of orphans, but others. They have
cognizance of all poor Chridians under the government,
whether they be Dutch, Portuguefe, or others, and take
care for their relief, by making collections in churches
every Sunday, and diftribiitions according to their necef-
fities. The poor always have a confiderable flock before-
hand, which has been gathered from the confifcations of
perfons detetled in private trade, and charitable gifts.
This ftock they let out to the company upon interefl,
which they conftantly receive, and employ as is needful ;
and, though the interefl of the ftock be fufficient to main-
tain the poor, yet they never negle6l the weekly collec-
tions in churches, to increafe the ftock as much as they
can : for they fay, it may fo happen, that, by great wars
and loiTe?, many may be maimed, made widows and fa^
therlefs, and then the principal may not be enough to
maintain them.
There can be nothing better calculated for the fafety
and profperity of the company than this provifion for
orphans, and fuch as become indigent j fince it keeps up
the fpirits of all, from the knowlege they have that neither
they, nor their children, fhall ever want bread 5 and, at
» Bafnage Defcrirtion hiftorique da Governement des Proviocea-
l^nics, chap, xxxvii.
the
the" Dutch in the Eajl Indies • . 13 1
tli'e fame time that it keeps them from being defperate,
it retains them in their duty.
It will not be expected that we fhould enter Into a par-
ticular detail of the company's officers and fervants : fuf-
fice it to fay, that all their regulations are founded upon
juftice, prudence, and humanity, and amount upon the
whole to a complete fyftem of legiflature, ceconomy, and
fubordination.
The Dutch flotillas from the Indies are as regular, and
It may be of no lefs value, than thofe that come annually
into the ports of Spain.
The Eafh India company's fhips ufually fail from The feafon
Batavia for Holland five times in a year. The firft take and cir-
their departure in the month of July ; to the number of ^'*'!"fi'^"^"
four or five fail, which touch in their paffage at the illand hcmenvard
of Ceylon. The fecond fquadron, of fixteen or twenty houyid Jhtp$
fail, begin their voyage conftantly in the month ^i fa.l ngfrom
Oaober. The third fquadron, of fix or feven vefiels, fails ^^^^-^^^^
in September ; the fourth, which commonly confifls of
four or five, in January 5 and the lad veflel in the
month of March, but not till the Chinefe fleet is ar-
rived, which brings the tea ; for of this the beft part of
the cargo of the homeward-bound veflel is compofed %
and therefore this is commonly called the tea-fhip j but
the common people call it the book-lhip, becaufe it brings
the current account of the company for the year, by
t?hich they fee the ftate of their trade in the Indies ^ (M.)
It is to be farther obferved, that all thefe veflels, laden Hoiv the
with the riches of fo many countries, fail from the fame command is
regulated
^ Management of the Dutch in India, publiflied by Mr. ^f '^</^
Lockyer. Jquadrom^
as alfo of
(M) There is nothing that ral concerns, and the regular fingk/hift^
deferves more attention in this courfe of their policy and com-
fe6tion than this circumftance, merce, there is no kind of
which we have mentioned more procraftination permitted j but,
than once, that the Dutch Eall: as the general accounts ire an-
India company maintain an nually'made up in the Indies,
exadl uniformity in their con- fo the fervants of the company
du6t at home and abroad ; and, are inimediatelypaid upon their
as far as it is pradicable, de- return to Europe ; and this
cide and adjuft every thing readinefs and punftuality is a
within the compafs of the year, prodigious benefit to the fer-
Seme exceptions there may be, vice, which indeed could very
but thefe are few in number, hardly, ir at all, be carried on
and in their nature inevitable, without it.
As to what rcfpeds their gene-
K 2 port
1^2 Conquejfs, Settlements, and Difcoverks of
port of Batavia. The (hips from Mocha, which bring
home the coffee, are the only veflels in the India com-
pany's fervice allowed to proceed diredtly home, without
going to Batavia at all. As to their admirals out o£
Europe, the flag is borne by turns ; the Amfterdam fqua*
dron carries it three years, and the Zealand fquadron
every fourth year : the Amllerdam having two parts o£
the flock, the other lelTer chambers add theirs to it^
and the Zeahnders have one quarter of their own. The
merchant who is fent admiral muft either take his paffage
in the Amfterdam or Zealand fquadron. If a copeman or
under-copeman goes from port to port in any fhip, he has
the command of her, and alfo of the fleet, or all fhips in
company, by the company's fettled order in their articles*
When there is a fleet together under the command of a
commandore, the council is to confift of copemen and
Ikippers. When a fliip is fingle, the council is to be of
copemen, il^ipper, under-copeman, book-keeper, and fteerf-
man ; and they are always to fteer their courfe by -the
printed direftions, and to fet off their work every day upon
charts, which are delivered up the very day on which
they come to Batavia or Holland. There is an under-
copeman or book-keeper in every ihip, who keeps an ac-
count of the {hip's expences, as ftores, provifions, and
men's wages, in the nature of a purfer ; and he is to fee
the, provifions fo given out, that none be fpoiled. Thefe
take place as they are capable of -preferment, in their
factories, by their time of fervice ; and they are often
taken out of factories when they are Vv'anted, and others
put in their places. If he that is upon a fhip as a book-
keeper be but an afTiftant, he takes place of the fteerfmen,
or next to the ficipper '^.
thofe ivho j^w chiefs of factories have free power to difpofe of
are '«JC>^- i^heir fliips and men while they are under their chieffhip,
auihoriiy ^^^ ^^ occafion requires in the company's fervice. They
«« /hore, may take out men, ammunition, provifions, and flores^
ha^e the though fuch fliips come there cafually through accident or
diredim o/neceliity. Thus every tiling relating to this fubjeO: is fo
Iheclafls ^^^^7 ^"^ clearly regulated, that doubts or difficulties
rarely arife. In their return to Holland they always
make fome fhay at the Cape, as well to take in refrefn-
ments, as to be informed of the company's orders that
may concern any of the paflengers on board ; fome of
whom perhaps are ordered back, that their condu£l may
« Voyage de Nicolas de Graaf aux Indes, p* 364, 365, 366, 367.
the Dutch in the Raft Indies > 133
be examined in the Indies ; and to receive the news of
the flate of things in Europe, as, by the way, they carry
gazettes, or news-papers, home with them, that contain
the principal tranfaciions in the Indies, of which we are
now to take leave, and to conclude with a brief repre-
fentation of the manner in which the company's affairs
are conduced at home **»
SECT. XXVII.
ne domeftic CEconomy of the Dutch Eaft India Com'
pany. Ihe immenfe Profits that have refulted to
Holland from this Commerce, ^he Nature of Di-
vidends and Transfers ; concluding with fome Ob-
fervations and Remarks upon the foregoing Par^
ticulars,
/IT the time the original flock of the Eaft India com^ lEJlahliJh-
^^ pany was fubfcribed by men of property refiding in ment of fix
^lifTerent places, there were fix chambers ere6ted, one in 'g^^rf^l*„^
each of the cities and great towns, from whence the fub- ^^^„ direc*
fcriptions came ; Middieburgh, on this account, being torsy in
coniidered as the centre of commerce, for the province whom the
of Zealand j and from thefe fix chambers the feventeen f"Pj^^^
directors are deputed, called in the Dutch language be- jo^gygian
winthebers, who are fometimes alfo ftyled the affembly authority-
ox council of feventeen. They meet four times a year of the com'
fucceffively at Amilerdam, and twice at Middieburgh, but P^"y ^re
not at all in the other towns. Thefe deputies are in fome *^v ^*'.
nieafure the fovereigns of this illuftrious company, yet
under the authority of the States General. Thefe feven-
teen directors are chofen in the following manner; eight
by the chamber of Amfterdam ; four by that of Zealand ;
Delft, Rotterdam, Horn, and Enchuyfen, fend one for
•each ; and the Maefe, Middieburgh, and North Holland,
choofe one by turns. Thefe feventeen direO;ors govern
the company, and reprefent the fovereignty of the whole
body, the fentiments of which are determined by plura-
lity of voices. They regulate all affairs of confequence,
fuch as making counfellors of the Indies, captains, lieute-
nants, in land and fea-fervice, and equipping of {hips, the
d Memojres fur le Commerce des HoUandois, p. 161. Memoires
de Dr. Garcin,
K 3 fale
1 24 Conqucfis^ Settlements^ and Difcoveries of
hit of the goods, the divifion of profits ; and all the
particular chambers are obliged to conform to their or-
ders. They likewife appoint the time for the fale of
the goods, one half in the chamber of Amfterdam, a
fourth in that of Middleburgh, and a fixteenth in each of
the other four chambers, at the time by them afligned, to
the high eft bidder, byaudlion®.
BefJes ^^^i befides thefe feventeen diretlors, each of the cham-
thefe, there bers has more belonging to the fame body : thus Am-
are direct- fterdam has ten, exclufive of the eight fent to the fove^
crsjeiiUd j-eign court ; and Haerlem, Leyden, Utrecht, Dort, and
itie Tham- ^^^^'goe, have each of them one there, as have the pror-
hers^ jor vinccs of Guelderiand, Friezeland, and Zealand likewife ;
tfie ma- befides, their four direiSlors have eight or ten more from
nagement other towns of the province. All thefe deputies are to give
oj leu their advice, in their refpe£l:ive chambers, for the benefit
concerns t ri 11 i it
61 the company ; and when a deputy dies, the town to
which he belongs names three others in his (lead, out of
which the magiltrates choofe one. This committee meets
twice a week, and change their prefident each month \ fo
that every one prefides in his turn. There are two_ ad-
vocates belonging to the company, who tranfmit what is
refolved upon to the Indies •, upon which the officers of
the company there form their refolutions, and iffue their
orders. There are eight depuiies for the affairs of the
marine, war, and building of fliips ; four to infpe61: their
magazines, and the goods that are fent to and come from
the Indies ; four who are to take care of the money which
the company pays and receives; and the reft are charged
with the accounts, and other affairs relating to order and
juftice, which is done to the meaneft mariner as well as
to the greateft ofilcers, and with equal expedition ^
OhYiged to The whole, though it feems at firft fight independent
render an of the ftate, is, however, kept in great fubordination by
account of means of the wife regulations made in eftabliftiing the di-
the fiate of ^q^qx^ and the care taken that not any two fliall be re-
ifie com- . \ ^ -, • ^ ■ ^ • ^
fanyy fl«^l*^t^d to each other ; a caution which, m a very great mea-
itstranfac- fure, prevents combinations, and all thofe pracSlices by
tions, which public eftablifliments are converted into private
jobs ; and what ought to redound to the common benefit
of a nation, conveyed into the pockets of a few private
men. Once in three years the States General demand
e Traite General du Commerce, par Sam.Kicaud. p. 4. ^ Me-
moires fur le Coinuierce de$ HoUandois, chap. xiv. Memoires de
Pr. Garcia.
the Dutch In the Eafl Indies, 135
and receive a ftridl account of the company's whole tranf-
a£tions, in order to be fatisfied that they keep wiihin the
bounds of their charter ; that they do juftice to their pro-
prietors ; and that they manage their trade fo as that it
may not be prejudicial to the republic; which regulation
may be juitly efteemed the principal caufe that hitherto
the affairs of the company have been fo perfedlly well
conduced ^.
In order to this examination or control of the com- Seme mo-
pany's accounts, the ancient pra61ice was, for the States ^^.^ alter-'
General to name a committee of their members to go to '^f^*^^ •.
Amfterdam, and there examine the books of the Eafl In- Jtheprl^
dia company upon the fpot ; a vifitation which took up prieters
a conliderable time; and during that Vhole fpace this <i^diheht^
committee from the States had their charges defrayed by "^-^^ ^-^ *
the company: but in the year T728, they thought fit to ^^^r*^^'
make a reprefentation to the States General, fetting forth
the inconveniences and unnefTary charge this method oc-
cafioned, praying, that their High MightinefTes would
allow the company to fend a deputation to the Hague,
to lay their accounts before them ; a favour which,
after -mature deliberation, was granted. Since that time
another alteration has been made of much greater mo-
ment by the body of the proprietors, who infilled, that
the fupreme direction of their affairs in Europe and in In-
<lia, fliould, by a folemn inftrument, be transferred to his
ferene highnefs the prince of Orange, as ftadtholder of
the union, by which he has entrance into all the affem-
bhes of the dire6lors by his reprefentatives, and confe-
quently the power of looking into and regulating their pro-
ceedings ; which indeed was the fole thing necefTary to
remove the inconveniences introduced by time, and to
purge out fuch errors as had grown up imperceptibly, and
for which no adequate remedy but this could have been
provided.
The magazines of the company are kept in excellent Method oh-
order. Such as are entrufted with tlte care of them give ff^'vedin .
large fecurlty, and are hable, befides^ to fevere puniili- '^**'^~^
ment, in cafe they arc guilty of any breach of truft, ej fheir
The fame flri61:nefs is (hewn to all degrees of perfons in nmgaxmis^
•their fervlce ; nor are the diredlors themfelves exempted, dotks,^
-in whom the fmalleil fraud, would, if difcovered,bepunifh- ^«J^»'*>
ed with fpeedy and exemplary juilice. This feverity keeps *^
% Jani^on Etat prefent de la Republique des Provi«ces-unies,
ton;i, i. p. 3S7.
136
A great
change in
the perjons
Jent by the
company to
her fettle^
tnsnts*
Con^uejls, Settlements^ and Dtfcovertes of
up that fpirit of care and diligence which is fo abfolutely
requifite to the right management of commerce \ and all
the under-ofllccrs, moved by the example, as well as con-
flrained by the infpetlion of their fuperiors, difcharge
their duty very exactly ; fo that the dock or yard in which
their fhips are built and repaired, is kept in as exa6t
order as that of any private man, though there are feldom
lefs than twelve hundred perfons employed at a time.
They do not, however, exert the fame authority over the
failors and under-fervants of the company that return
from the Indies, but, on the contrary, allow them all the
liberty they can defire, and fufFer them to live in what
manner, and at what expence they pleafe j an indulgence
granted from a principle of true policy, fmce it affords
them the means of fpending, in a fhort fpace, all that
they have acquired in long fervice ; fo that, in five or
fix weeks, they are, generally fpeaking, reduced to their
primitive (late of indigence, and confequently are oblig-
ed to enter again into the company's fervice for a frjeih
term ^. ' ^
Thus the liberty of the fubje£l is preferved entire, and
the company neverthelefs feldom wants a regular fupply
of able and feafoned feamen. The utmoft care is taken
that all employed in this fervice, both at home and abroad,
fliall be properly qualified for the ftations in which they
ferve ; and therefore it is a rule that none can enter into
office before they have undergone a proper examination ;
and though there m.ay be fome inftances where interell or
favour may have procured difpenfations in this refpedt,
yet thefe occur but very feldom, and are not therefore of
very great confequence ^
When the company firfl began to raife fettlements, and
eftablifh colonies in the Indies, few people went thither
but men of blafted charaders, or ruined fortunes, that is,
in lower ftations : but in procefs of time the face of things
entirely changed, and great felicitations are requifite to
obtain even mean employments. All of them, from the
higheft to the 1 owe ft, are beftowed either by the council
of feventeen, or by the particular chambers. The great
pofts, fuch as governor-general, the governments of Cey-
lon and the Cape, together v/ith the places of counfellors
of the Indies, are never conferred but upon fuch as have
i» Janigon Etat prefent de la Republique des Provinces-unies,
torn. i. p. 389, i Memoires fur le Coinmerce des Hollandois,
^hap. i^.
deferved
Butch in the Eajl Indies. 137
deferved them by long and faithful fervices, and for the
mod part on the recommendation of the council at Batavia ;
but counfellors extraordinary, who, though thcy are al-
lowed to give their opinions, yet have no votes, are often
fent out in that quality from Holland, as officers likewife
are in all the inferior ftations, but at large, and without
particular appointments, that the council of the Indies
may difpofe of them as the fervice requires ''.
Upon the firfl ere£ling of the company the capital con- TheprodU
filled of near fix million and a half of florins, which was gwusrjfeof
divided into a£lions of three thoufand florins each, or five ^!!^°P^i"^J
hundred pounds Flemifli ; which appellation of actions -^^/^ India
they llill hold, though much altered in their value, in the company^
fame manner with our flocks, the title of which remains
the fame, whether the flock rifes or falls. As for the
adlions of the Eafl India company, they have rifen a thou-
fand per cent, that is to fay, an original adion, which
was fubfcribed at three thoufand florins, has been a£lually
fold for thirty thoufand. The rife and fall of thefe ac-
tions, hke that of our flocks, depends partly on the real
value, compared with the ordinary intereft of money,
partly upon the circumftances of affairs in Europe in ge-
neral, and of the republic of the United Provinces in par-
ticular. As for inflance, before the breaking out of the
war in 1672, the a£lions of the Dutch Eafl India com-
pany were fold at fix hundred and fifty per cent. •, yet
during that war they fell to two hundred and fifty, and
rofe again after the peace. But whatever the price of ac-
tions may be, a principal director mufl have two in his
own pofTeffion to qualify him for that pofl ; and none are
capable of a vote in an election who are not pofTefl^ed of
one whole action at leafl. The falaries of the directors
vary according to the chambers to which they belong.
Thofe eighteen that are chofen by the city of Amflerdam
have three thoufand florins a year ; yet there are others .
that have but twelve hundred, but thefe may be chofen if
they have no more than two a6lions '.
The manner of buying and felling Eafl India flock is very Method of
eafy and expeditious. When the parties have fettled the ^'0'^"^ ^"^
price between themfelves, they go together to the India -^^/^f "
Houfe, where the feller applies himfelf to the clerk of the
book, in which his ftock is entered, and defires him to
k Gronden en Maximen van de Republick van Holland, i deel,
cap. xvi. Bafnage Defer. Hiftor. du Gouvernement des Povinces-
unies, chap, xxxvii. i Tiaite General du Commerce, par Sa-
muel Ricaud, p. 6,
transfer
138 Conqueftsy Settlements^ and Bifcover us of
transfer fo much from his account to that of the buyer 5
which being done, he figns it, and afterwards figns a re-
ceipt for the purchafe-money -, and, the whole tranfac-
tion being performed in the prefence 01 a dire£lor, he figns
the book likewife ; fo that there is not fo much as a poffi-
bility of any fraud being committed ; yet the whole ex-
pence of this transfer amounts to no more than feven (hil-
lings and fix pence of our money, upon one whole action of
three thoufand florins, and in the fame proportion for all
fmaller fums, and the brokerage upon an a£tion comes but
to twelve {hillings. The directors, who have the fole ma-
nagement of the company's concerns, fettle not only the
times, but the quantities and qualities, of the company's
goods that are to be expofed in their faies ^ from the pro-
duce of which their dividends are paid, and are high and
low, according to the profits made by the company. This,
however, mufl be underltood v»^ith fome reflri6i:ion ;, for
certain it is, that from the firfl eftablifliment, they have
never divided to the full extent of their profits, and for
very good reafons ; becaufc long wars, and other charge-
able expeditions muft be defrayed out of this referved ftock,
to prevent a great and apparent decreafe in their dividends,
which would neceffarily occafion a very great fall of their
adlions. Befides, they have conflantly paid the ftate very
large fums, for renewing their charters, and for fuch other
a6ls of flate, as they have procured from time to time in
their favour. It has been found alfo requifite for them to
keep large fums in bank, to anfwer the exigencies of the
flate, as well as the company, in times of great difficulty
und danger. Add to all this, that they have referved vafl
quantities of fpices, and other rich commodities, that their
fales might not lower the price of them too much; and,
upon this principle, they fometimes bum great quantities
of fpices. They formerly had recourfe to another method,
for the benefit of their proprietors, which was paying their
dividends in . cloves, mace, and nutmegs, at a very low
price, by which thofe who receive them gained very confi-
derable advantages ™ (M).
CHAP.
m Bafnage Defcription Iliftorique du Gouvernement des Pro-i
vinces-un., chap, xxxvii. Traite gen. du Com. par S. Hicaud, p. 6«
(M) It would be a very dif- value of the commerce of the
ficult, if not imprafticable, un- Eaft India company, but even
dertak'ng, to aim at the com- of -any fingle branch, otherwife
putation not only of the entire than by the help of their divi-
dends,
the Danes in the Eajl Indies,
«39
CHAP. XXXIV.
The Commerce, Colonies, and Cc77ipanies^ which
the Danes have heretofore maintained^ or Jlill
fupport in the Eaji Indies.
SECT. I.
Characier of the Danijh Nation ; their ancient Turn
to Navigation and naval Expeditions ', their Share in
the Holy War % the "Time when an ardent Dejire of
making Di/coveries, and opening new Branches of
Trade^ revived among ft them. Account of the fa^
mous Empire ofBifnagar in Indojlan, and the Circum-^
fiances which facilitated their fettling at Tanjour.
AS far as we can penetrate through that mift of fabu- ^-^^ genius
lous inventions in which the ancient hillory of the ^/''^^«-
northern nations is enveloped, the Danes have been from D^„gj ^„^
the moft early times equally diftinguifhed by their martial their man-
temper, time expe-
ditions and
dends, and in the manner fug-
gefled in the text ; which, how-
ever, caanot lead us to any
competent notion of the grofs
amount of their annual returns
from the Indies ; though fome
have ventured to fix this, one
year with another, at fixteen
millions of guilders. But, in
refped to theie, we may help
our conceptions a little, by re-
fieding how great a fliare the
Dutch Eaft India company flill
retain of this commerce, in all
its branches, notwithftanding
the prodigious efforts that have
been made, more efpecially
within a century paft, in fa-
vour of other nations. As to
the fpice trade, pepper ex-
cepted, they are poflelfed of the
fnonopoly, and were never fo
thoroughly or fo fecurely fettled "»I«^A
therein as at prefent, and while
they retain this, they can never
fail of being mailers in the In-
dies ; that is, of trading more
largely, and upon better terms,
than their neighbours. They
hold alfo their monopoly of the
trade of Japan, and enjoy the
mines of Liguor, from whence
they derive llill farther advan-
tages of the fame kind. They
draw prodigious quantities of
valuable commodities and ma-
nufaftures out of their own
dominions, which they annu-
ally bring home to Europe, and
which they are conftantly im-
proving in quality^ and aug-
menting In quantity ; the con- '
fequences of which, if we du-
ly weigh, will fufhciently con-
vince
1^0 Conquejls^ Settlements^ and Dlfcoverles of
temper, and addi6led to maritime expeditions ". The
conquefts they gained over their neighbours ferved only to
excite in them an ambition of undertaking greater things,
and carrying the terror of their arms into countries more
remote. The Britifh ifles, after being long harraiTed by
, their incurfions, became at length for a time a part of their
-dominions. They ere6led in France the noble duchy of
Normandy ; and, from thence extending their naval in-
curfions, fixed themfelves in Naples, which they fubdued,
and from thence fent their veflfels to cruife upon the coafts
of Afia °. Thefe are fa6ls that may be proved from hif-
tory ; but vi^hether before thefe exploits, they, or any co-
lony of their's, had found a paiTage, which is now loft,
from Iceland to Japan, as fome have*imagined, is a point
that we cannot take upon us to decide.
Tkdr ex- In the wars that were carried on by the Chrlftian princes
ploits in for the recovery of Jerufalem out of the hands of the Mo-
the holy hammedans, the Danes had a large fhare; and their private
"nvhkh are ^lemoirs, as well as public liiftories, have preferved many
fuppofed to particulars which do honour to the memories of thofe ge-
ha've given tierous heroes, who, from perhaps a miftaken principle- of
^V^ ^°l^^, piety, fignalized their courage in thofe diftant countries,
%'^bh t ' ^"*^ fpread the fame of their nation to the utmoft limits of
the Eaft p. It is with a view to perpetuate the renown of
thefe great and gallant a6lions, as fome of their ableft an-
tiquaries affert, that the order of the Elephant was erected,
which is ftill the moll didinguiChed mark of royal favour
'the kings of Denmark beftow upon their fubjefts '5. We
n Strabonis Geograph. lib. \V^. HertzhblmiusPrsecellent. Regn.
Dan. & iNorv. p. 95. "> Eginliaidiiis in Vira Caroli Magni.
Albertus Stadenfis in Annal. Dan. Olaus Wormius ad calccm, lib.
vi. Monument. Danicorum. P Pontanus Hift. Dan. lib, yV\.
p.475. Saxo-Grammat. lib. xii. p. 213. Snorro Sturlefonins in
Chron, Norv. p. 436. <i Hertzhclmius in Breviario Equef-
tri, cap. ix. feet. 1.
vince us, that their profits for ages to come, with prodi-
muft be much larger than thofe gious profit, notvvithllandnTr;
ot other nations who trade to all the attempts that may be
the Eail Indies ; and that made to interfere with them j
therefore, though they are not becaufe it is not eafy to forefee
the lead jealous, yet they are that they can be ever in dan-
the leail like to be hurt by ger of lofing the fuperior ad-
new ellablirnments, and have vantages before mentioned, and
the greatell: fecurity of being many others that might be enu-
able to carry on this commerce, merated(i).
. (1) Jani^onEtat prefentdsla Republiq. des Provinces un. chap, iz,
may
ihe Banes in the Eajl Indies. 141
may from thefe circumftances, with a reafonable degree
of certainty, collecSt, that whatever lefler alterations might
be made in the poHcy, or in the difpoiitions of the Danes,
they itill continue to chexifh, through a long courfe of
ages, that noble ardour which had been fo confpicuous in
their anceftors, and which had fpread the trophies of their
victories into regions fo far removed from their own.
But this conduct, and thefe expeditions, how much fo- By this
ever they might ferve to raife the glory, contributed not 2. fnartialfpi*
little to weaken the ftrength, of this nation ; fo that in /^!^^/^^f/^
fucceeding times we find her ftruggling hard to preferve attended\t
thofe ancient prerogatives which flie challenged as being the croivn
the firft of the northern crowns, and of which fhe was °f ^^"'
gradually deprived through the long v/ars that were brought ^'^^^^^'
upon her by the ill condudi of fome of her monarchs. ^^^y^^,
Amongft thefe Chriftiern II. was the moft remarkable,
who, from being polTefied of the three crowns of Denmark,
Sweden, and Norway, fell firft into the condition of a
private man, fled next into the Low Countries as an exile;
and at length, finding all endeavours to recover his former
dignity vain, yielded himfelf a prifoner, in which fad ftate
he continued to his death ^ By his depofition the crowns
of Denmark and Norway came to Frederick duke of Hol-
ftein, whofe great-grandfon Chriftiern IV. being a prince
of fingular abilities, aild having a llrong defire to promote
the welfare of his fubjeils, willingly liftened to whatever
propofals were made for promoting i'nuuftry, erecting ma-
nufactures, and extending commerce; which laudable
fpirit, to fpeak impartially, feemed to prevail in an extra-^
ordinary degree about the beginning of the feventeenth
century throughout all Europe ^
Of all the fchemes that were offered to this intelligent CkrijllerH
prince, he was moft pleafed with that for opening a trade ^^'^^efirji
between his own dominions and the Indies, from which ^^'fTT
though fome endeavoured to diffuade him, by fuggefting applied
that the paflage was long and hazardous ; that the Portu- himfeif to
^uefe were already in poffeffion; and that though the Eng- ^'''^ pro-
lifti and Dutch had made fome voyages into thofe parts, ^°^^^^
yet the returns they ha4 hitherto received were rather of ^anr^difca-
honour than profit ^ That prudent prince eafily difcern- n}erie5,
ed, that the firft of thefe fallacious arguments might be
urged againft any other branch of trade as well as this ;
«■ Johannis Magni Gothorum Snecorumque Hift. lib. xxiv.
Thuan. Hid. fui temporis, lib. i. xxii. s EfTai fur la M.^-
rineet furle Commerce, p. 159, 160, \^x. t Commerce des
Baiiois aux iades, p. 19, & feq!
and
142 Conquefls, Settlements, and Difcoveries of
and that to accuftom his fubje£ls to long voyages was the
moft effectual method of rendering them lefs hazardous,
fince, without Ikill, men will be always in danger at Tea,
and the knowlege of the mariner can only be acquired by
practice. He knew that the Portuguefe had overftrained
their power in the Eaft, and that fhrangers were never
more v/elcome than at this jun£ture. As to the Englifh
and Dutch, he was well acquainted with their exploits 9
and thought that it was high time his fubjefts Ihould dif-
tinguifh themfelves in the like manner. Upon thefe mo-
tives, therefore, which were equally folid and honourable,
he took a refolution to countenance thofe who were inclin-
ed to hazard their private fortunes in an undertaking, that,
> ' if it fucceeded, mull neceflarily tend to the public benefit.
He rightly forefaw the confequences that mull follow the
eflablifhment of fuch a trade, which, if it failed, would
occafion but a fmall lofs j and that, by being divided
amongft many, would fall the lighter ; but if it fhould
have a favourable ilTue, would employ a multitude of
hands, increafe their (hipping, and encourage a commer-
cial fpirit amongll his fubjecls. The lofs therefore feem-
ing to be but a trifle in comparifon to the gain, and pro-
bability being on the fide of the former rather than the
latter, he vigoroufly fup^orted, on refieftion, a propofal,
which, from inclination, he had firlt encouraged.
Jtt account About the year 1 6 1 2 thofe who had afl^Dciated themfelves
of the Da" at Copenhagen for carrying on the trade of the Eaft Indies
riifliEaft received the fan<Slion of royal authority; and, having di-
Indta com- ^\^^^ ^.j^^jj. capital into two hundred and fifty Ihares, of a
cftheirfvji thoufand rix-dollars each, began to make the neceflary
txpedition, preparations for equipping and fending a fquadron to the
Eaft Indies ". As the fuccefs of their proje61: depended
in a great meafure upon the iflue of their firft adventure,
they were more folicitous to have every thing in good or-
der, than to run any confiderable hazard for the fake of
expedition. There vv^ere at that time feamen, who had
vifited the Indies in fome fervice or other, eafy to be met
v.'ith in the northern ports, and of thefe they collected as
many as they could. They likewife took care to ftudy
thoroughly whatever had been publifted in Italy, Spain,
Portugal, England, or the Low Countries, in reference to
this fubje6l. Having from thence formed the beft plan
they could of the commerce of the Indies, they gave ample
inftru£lions to thofe who were intrufted with the manage-
" Diftionaire de Commerce, torn, ivi col, 754.,
inent
the Danes in the Eaft Indies, 145
ment of their affairs ; and particularly recomniended to
them obtaining a fettlement by fair means, and for a rea-
fonable coniideration ; keeping always on good terms with
the natives, and avoiding as far as polfible any difpiites with
the fubie<ft5 of thofe European powers that they might
find engaged in projects of a hke kind. With thefe in^
jun<3:ions, fortified by the king's commiflion, the officers
intrufted with the company's fhips departed from the ifland
of Zealand, and reached the Eaft Indies in 161 6 ^. But,
before we come to fpeak of their proceedings, it will be
expedient to give the reader a fliort account of the (late
the country was in where they firfl traded, and where they
afterwards fettled, at the time of their arrival ; that it may
appear how far they complied with their orders, and on
what terms they eftablifhed their colony where it ftiil re-
mains, and of which they had been ever fince in poffet-
fion, though not without difturbance and danger, or with-
out their having their full fhare of thofe difficulties with
which all the Europeans, who have vifited thofe dillant
climates, have fooner or later been opprefled. We do not
find that any umbrage was taken at this ftep of theDanifti
court ; for in thofe days none of thofe refinements on the
rights of diflant navigation, which have fo much perplex-
ed the moderns, and are become a diftin^l branch of poli-
tics, were fo much as known j for all darting together, as
it were, for this prize, they were more intent upon ob-
taining it, than on finding arguments to give the colouf of
an exclufive title, when it fliould be obtained.
At the time the Europeans firft opened a paffage to the The gran-
Indies by fea, the great peninfula without the Ganges was 5^"'" °^ '^^
moft of it fubje£t to the emperor of Bifnagar, whofe domi- pi^g'^/gfr.
nions extended from the frontiers of the kingdom of Oriza, nagary be^
to CaJDe Commorin '^. The reafon that we find fo \\X.\\t fore it n-vas
mention m^deof this moft potent monarch in the relations ^,"^^^^h
of the Portuguefe, arifes from hence, that his territories ^commo^
were limited by the mountains which run parallel in a man- tions,
ner to the fea-coafts of Malabar, where they firft eftabliftied
themfelves, and where the principal potentate was the fa-
morin or king of Calicut y. While the Portuguefe were
extending their power, the vaft empire of Bifnagar was
crumbling to pieces through its own weight.. The firft
monarchs of that mighty ftate had acquired their power by
w ComTTierce des Danois aux Indes, p. ^i. x Tavernier
Voyages des Indes, torn. iii. lib. i. chap i8. y Maifaei Hilf.
ladic. lib. iv, cap. 7. lib. vii. cap. 9.
the
144
What fa-
tvereign-
ties arofe
out of the
ruins of
this o^ver-
grown
monarchy.
Conquefts^ Settlements^ and Dtfcoverles of
the exercife of their virtues ; in time of war they were at
the head of their own armies ; in times of peace they di-
itditA their own councils, vifited their dominions annually,
and rendered juflice to all their fubjefts with the utmoli
pun£luality ; but profperity, dangerous to all human efta-
blifhments, proved fatal to this empire. From delighting
in great a£lIons, the emperors of Bifnagar became fond of
fwelling titles : king of kings, and the hufband of a thou-
fand wives, were the firll of a long catalogue of whimfical
epithets, at once very pompous and very infignificant *. By
degrees their vanity rofe to fuch a height, and their flat-
terers prevailed fo far, that they conceited themfelves to be
more than men, appeared rarely in public, afFefted divine
honours *, and left the care of their dominions to the great
ofncers of ftate, and to the governors of provinces, thus
paving the way to their own deftruftion.
The Pattanneers, a Tartar nation, invaded the north-
eaft provinces of the empire ; the generals of the Mogul
attacked the north-weft ^ The governors, being necef-
farily at the head of armies, laid hold of this opportunity
to render themfelves independent, and fome aliumed the
title of kings; as for inftance, thofe of Vifapour and Gol-
conda ^ ; but thofe in the fouthern provinces, though they
alfo rendered themfelves independent fovereigns, content-
ed their ambition that way, and retained their old title of
nai'ck. Amongft thefe the three moil confiderable were
thofe of Madura, Tanjour, and Gingi. Madura is of great
extent, reaching from Cape Commorin along the coaft of
Coromandel, oppofite to the ifland of Ceylon, and very far
within land. Tanjour is of fmaller compafs, bounded on
the fouth and, on the weft by Madura, on the eaft by the
fea, and on the north by the province of Gingi, from which
it is feparated by the river of Coloran. Tanjour, which is
the capital of tliis principality, lies in the north-weft cor-
ner of the country, is a city of confiderable extent, toler-
ably well built, and has a good inland trade. As for ma-
ritime places, the naick had two that were pretty confi-
derable on the coaft of Malabar, which were Negapatan and
Tranquebar. In 1597, the Portuguefe were fettled at the
former, {o much to the fatisfa£l:ion to the niVick, that he was
defirous they fhould likewife ere61; a church at the latter ;
.which about that time they did, and the Jefuits took pof-
zPurchas's Pilgrims, torn. ii. p. 1746. a Voyages de
Thevenot aux Indes Orientales, torn. v. p. 290. Lettresedifiantes
et curieufe.-, torn- xv. b Tavernier Voyages des Indes,
torn. iii. liv. i. chap. i8.
feffion^
1
the 'Danes in the Eaft Indies, 14^
feflion of It, made a confiderable number of converts
among the natives, and brought feveral of their country-
men to fettle there likewife on the fcore of commerce ;
this was the condition in which the Danes found that
country when they came firft to trade upon the coaft of
Coromandel.
The Danes, at their firfl meeting, feem to have been In "what
very well received by the natives j and, finding the place ^*J*^''».
more commodious for traffick than any other, where they ^/^^, ^^-^^
could with any probability expe£t a fettlement, they began the Dane:
to make propofitions to the nai'ck, for his permilFion to firft fettled
feat themfelves in his dominions, which were favourably ^''/^^ ^^*
accepted ; and in all probability they were rather aflifted 7^^^X«r^
than oppofed therein by the Portuguefe, who were defir-
ous of having fome fortrefs in this neighbourhood, that
might in a time of danger afford them protection ^. In
the fpace of five years, when the difpofition and cuftoms
of thefe Europeans were better known, the naick of Tan-
jour entered into an agreement v/ith them for this port,
and a certain diilri6t round it, which he fold, or rather
farmed to them, at the annual rent of two thoufand par-
does, or perdous, which is llill regularly paid ; and in 162 1,
they built a fortrefs after the European manner, for the
defence of the port, and of the town that was ere(Sl:ed un-
der it *=. This is the beft account that we are able to give
of the firft eftablifhment of the Danes upon this coaft,
which was fuitable enough to the views of the company,
and became gradually of much greater importance ^. It
might have been much fooner improved, if their thoughts
had not been drawn away by an obje<Sl: of much greater
confequence ; and of which, though they never availed
themfelves in any degree, yet it may be both ufeful and
entertaining to the reader to meet with a fliort account of
it here, becaufe it is rarely mentioned in defcriptions of
the Indies.
b Commerce de Danuois aux Indes, p. 45. <= Gefta et Vefti-
gia Danorum in Oriente, p. 67. <* Hiftoire des Indes Orientalcs^
par Guyon, tom. ii. p. 101,
Mod. Vol. IX. L S E C T,
146 Conquejlsy Settlements^ and DJfcoveries of
SECT. II.
ji Kegotiation between the Monarch of Ceylon and the
Court of Copenhagen ; the Fortrefs of Tranquebar
ereBed^ and the favourable Afpe6i of Things in re-
gard to the Affairs of the firjl Danijh Company..
Change of Circumfiances in the Indies, and unfavour-
able Events in Europe, exhaujl the Funds, and wound
the Credit of the Company^ abroad and at home.
Mareellus \7[7E Iiave in the foregoing fe^llons given a large and
*van BofJi- ' ^ copious detail of the conqueil of the illand of Cey-
r^'^r "h ^^^ ^^°^^ ^^^^ Portuguefe by the Dutch, but have barely
Dutch to ^oQchetl on a certain negotiation which preceded that vi^ar,
■negotidte ^s having it in our intention to explain that matter more
nxjtth the fully here, as it gave an opening for the Danes to have
monarch of poflefled themfelves of that ifland, and which they were
^ '"'* not backward in embracing, though, by the premature
death of the author of this projeft, it proved altogether
abortive *. When the Dutch concluded, in 1609, a truce
tvith the crown of Spain, after a long war, by which both
parties were almoft exhaulled, the States and the prince
of Orange both thought proper to write to the king or em-
peror of Ceylon, in order to give him notice of this tem-
porary peace, by which they were left at full liberty to
, profecute their commerce in the Indies. Thefe letters
were fent by the fquadron that carried over Peter Both, in
quality of governor-general ; and, upon their arrival at
Bantam, a veffei called the Black Lion was prepared for
Marcellus van Bofchhower, who was in no higher poft
than that of an under-merchant, to proceed with thefe
letters, and full powers, to Ceylon. "When he arrived in
that iiland, he was received with much refpe£t and efteem
by Cenuwieraat Adafcyn, v/ho, by the marriage of the
widow emxprefs, was in poflefiion of the throne *, to whom
he prefented letters, and with whom he concluded a treaty,
which was confirmed by the Dutch governor and his coun-
cil ^ He would then have quitted the ifland ; but both
the emperor and the emprefs were fo well pleafed with
him, and entertained fo high an opinion of /his abilities,
e Gefta et Veftigia Danorum in Oriente, p. 66. f Hiftoire de
i'lfle de Ceylon, par I'Abbe le Grand, p. 56, 57.*
and
or
him in Eu-
the Banes In the Eaji Indies. 1 47
ahd zeal for their fervice, that they laboured to retain him
by the oiFer of very great preferments s.
Foreigners feldom continue long in favour, efpecially in He is ere*
abfolute governments, and therefore the fortune of Mar- ated by .
cellus was the more fingular. The monarch of Ceylon *^^^ poten-
beftowed upon him the principality of Mignonne, by ffflf^!'^^
which, faving his homage, he became a fovereign, having tionne, and
efpoufed a lady of the firll quality, and having with her in fent to ne-
dowry a fair country, with a confiderable revenue, and gotiaufc
fome thoufands of fubje<?ts ''. He was alfo promoted to ^^ *"
the higheft commands, fometimes at the head of armies,
having at others the direftion of fleets, with the title of
admiral ; neither did he ever lofe, but on the contrary in-
creafed his credit, fo long as he remained in the iiland*
At length, finding the Dutch adminiftration in the Indies
either unable or unwilling to perform the treaty they had
made, though the Portuguefe had cut off all. the Dutch-
men he had brought with him to Ceylon, in violation of
the truce, he prevailed upon the emperor to fend him^
with the title of his ambaflador, into Europe. His cre-
dentials were dire61ed to the States General \ but, befides
thefe, he had, in cafe his applications to them (liould fail,
full-power to treat with any other European potentate who
fliould be difpofed to aflift the emperor of Ceylon in reco-
vering his dominions from the Portuguefe, upon fuch
terms as he fliould think juft and equitable. He failed
from Ceylon, May the 9th, 161 5, for the port of Mafu-
lipatan, where he addrefled himfelf to. the Dutch direftor,
and at his requeft went from thence to Bantam ; where,
finding the governor-general Gerard Reynft dead, and af-
fairs in fome confufion, he obtained leave from the coun-
cil to purfue his inftru£lions, and to return to Holland,
that he might reprefent to their High MightinefTes, and
the prince of Orange, the true ftate of affairs in theifland
of Ceylon, and explain what affiftance might be neceflary
to procure them a free commerce; a comniiflion which it
was fuppofed would be highly acceptable in a country
where the importance of the cinnamon trade was well un-
derftood, and the government confequentlyperfed^ly well
difpofed ^
But thefe hopes proved altogether fallacious ; for, when
Marcellus van Bofchhower came to Holland with his lady^
they expedled to be treated as the prince and princefs of
z Bald. H'jft. Ceylon, cap. xi. t Hiftoire de I'Ifle de Ceylon,
par i'Abbe Ic Grand, p. 57. I Bald. Hilt. Ceylon, cap. xvii.
L 2 MIgnonne,
148
Hh negO"
t tat ion in
Holland
proving
nnfuccefs-
fulf he re~
/ol'ves to
hanje re-
€ourfe to
feme other
pauuer*
Jn this dif-
pojition he
proceeds to
Cop en -
hagen, and
concludes a
treaty
there.
Conqtteftsy Settlements^ and Difcovertes of
Mignonne, living in a manner fuitable to their title, and
difdaining to be confidered in any other light ^. The di-
redlors of the Eaft India company, who had fent out Mr.
Bofchhower as an under-copeman, could not be brought
to comprehend any thing of his being a prince, a circum-
ftance which quickly occafioned a breach in the negotia-
tion, and induced the emperor of Ceylon'§ plenipotentiary
to think of carrying his credentials fome where eife. After
mature reflexion on the ftate of things in other countries,
he determined to proceed to Denmark, which was very^
probably occafioned by his receiving intelligence of the
king's attention to the commerce of his fubje£ts in general,
and to that of the Eaft Indies in particular. Some have
thought that this fcheme was incompatible with his alle-
giance to their High MightineiTes *, but it is very apparent
that he coniidered himfelf as the fubje6i: and privy-coun-
fellor of the monarch of Ceylon ; and, if he was received
and treated as fuch in Holland, he was certainly at liberty
yAxtn his propofals were rejefted to purfue the other points
in his inftruiStions '. To fay the truth, it looks as if things
had been confidered in that light by the States General,
who might, if they had thought it proper, have hindered
his leaving their territories, or have obliged him to return
in one of the company's (hips to the Eaft Indies.
He arrived at Copenhagen, July 16th, 161 7, and was
received there in a manner fuitable to his pretenfions.
While he refided in this capital, the princefs of Mignonne
■\^^as brought to bed of a fon, to whom his Danilh majefty
was godfather. His propofitions were favourably accepted
by the company, who entered into a negotiation with
him ; and a treaty being concluded between thern, i^ was
ratified and confirmed in the fucceeding year by king
Ghriftiern IV. He granted him alfo a man of war, called
the Elephant, to carry him, his family and retinue, back
to Ceylon. The company likewife added fome fliips of
theirs ; and the whole fquadron vi^s under the command
of a Danifh nobleman, whofe name was Owen Giedde de
Tomrnerup ™. He failed with this fquadron from Copen-
hagen, March 30th, 1691, and anchored at the Cape of
Good Hope, July ;9th, the fame year, from whence he
proceeded for Ceylon ; but meeting with very bad wea-
ther, numbers died in the pafiage* and, amongft the reft,.
^ Commerce des Danois aux Indes, p. 33. 1 Memoires
touchant les Ambafi'adeurs et les Miniltres publiqites, p, 47, 48, 49.
"» Gcfta efc Veftiga Danorum in Oriente, p. 66,
the
fioe Banes in the Eajl Indies^ 149
tlic prince of Mignonne ". On the arrival of the Danifh
commodore in the harbour oi Trinquemale, he fent ad-
vice to the emperor, who, the Dutch writers fay, dif-
avowed the treaty, becaufe, perhaps, he thought the fuc-
cours infufficient, and too hafty a demand was made for
the expences of the fleet. However this might be, the
Danifh commodore is faid to have fei^ed all the prince's
efFecSls, and to have fet his widow on fhore in a very di-
ftrefled condition, a report which may, notwithilanding,
admit of fomc doubt, fi-nce, after remaining feven years at
the emperor of Ceylon** court, fhe thought fit to go to
Tranquebar, and there ended Jier days. As foon as the
princefs was landed, the Danifh commodore proceeded for
the coaft of Coromandel, where he made a treaty with
the naick of Tanjour, and left the forces that fhould have
been difembarked at Ceylon to garrifon the fort that was
ere£i:iHg at Tranquebar, and on which he bellowed the
name of Danebourg. In his return he anchored again in
Table Bay, under the Cape of Good Hope, Augult 30th,
162 1, and returned fafe in th^ beginning of the fucceeding
year to Copenhagen*'.
When the fortrefs was in a flate of defence, and the Thetomtn.
Indians began to ere£l houfes, or rather huts, under its ofTran*
protection, Tranquebar foon changed its appearance, and ^"^^f'
from being a place very little confidered, and of which ^J^^^^^ ^^
fcarce any notice was takers grew into great reputation. Oanebourg
Tliofe who had the direction of the company's affairs acquired by
treated the na^tives, whether of the Portuguefe flock, the Eafl
Moors, or Gentoos, with juftice and lenity ; received ^'''^
Ihips that came to trade with all imaginable readinefs,
and put them under none of thofe reflraints to which they
v/ere fubjedled elfewhere. By thefe prefent methods the
colony augmented in the fpace of a few years, not only to
the utmofl of their expe^lations, but beyond even their
mofl fanguine wifhes p. This profperity induced them to
think of eftablifliing factories upon the oppofite coafl of
Malabar, for the fake of obtaining a fhare in the pepper
trade, of fixing fatbories in other pli^ces, and of fending
their fhips to the r-eflnoteil parts of the Indies. The Danes,
therefore, had very little reafon to treat the memory of
the prince of Mignonne with dlfregard, or to complain
that they were fediiced by his promifes of mountains of
nBald Hift. Ceylon, cap. xvii. o Gefta et Veftigia Dano-
rura in Oriente, p. <;5, p FloriVs Obfervations onthe Co»a-
»iex<;fi of I be Indies.
L 3 gold
150 Conquejls, Settlement Sy and Difcover'ies of
gold to navigate diftant feas, where they could meet with
no fuch thing <5 ; for, whatever benefit they reap from the
fettlement of Tranquebar, whatever they drew in procefs
of time from the reft of the Indies ; and whatever advan-
tages have attended, or may attend the revival and exten-
fion of this commerce, ought in a great meafure to be
afcribed to that unfortunate great man, whofe project
produced fuch an armament as rendered their firft feeble
endeavours efFcftual, from whence all the reft has flowed
as from its proper fource.
As far as It muft be allowed, that our materials for the hiftory
*we can of this commerce are very fcanty 5 and that we are obliged
judge from ^^ colleft and range, in the beft order we can, fuch paf-
TialT^this ^^g^s as occur in authors of other nations, that fpeak in-»
company cidentally of the traffick of the Danes, and not always
continued v/ith fo much candour as we could wifti. In fpite, how-
fomf time ever, of thefe obftacles, we may venture to affirm, that
tn a t ri'v- • ^-^ygj^j-y years the ihips of the Danifh Eaft India com-
tlon. pany had opened a trade with the Moluccas, which en-
abled their diredlcrs at Tranquebar to fend home large
vcfTels richly Iqiden, wdth cargoes well afibrted, from all
parts of the Indies j fo that during the reign of Chriftiern
IV. this commerce might be juilly faid to flourifh in as
high a degree as that of any other nation in the famefpace
^ of timxC, the Portuguefe and Dutch only excepted ; and if
we confider the difference of circumftances in regard to
thofe nations and the Danes, we cannot but look on this
as very extraordinary, and affording a proof that juftice,
induftry, and an indefatigable application, will improve
even a veryTmall ftock into a fund fufficient to anfwer the
greateft purpofes % "
But ihoje Thofe, however, who pique themfelves upon penetrat-i
ctrcum^ ing to the bottom of things, may pofhbly difcern, that
fiancei that within thefe lirft twenty years there were many accidents
had been J^appened in the Indies very favourable to the Danifli co-
tTth^tn, ' Io^Yj and to the views of thofe that were employed by the
changing^ company at Copenhagen. The Portuguefe, ftill under
their fitua' the lubje£lion of Spain, were ftruggling with a foreign
\ioti alters, ^^r, and domeftic difficulties. The Spaniards rarely fent
any ihips beyond the ftreights of Malacca, the Dutch were
fully occupied in obtaining the monopoly of fpices, and
the Englifn felt the weight of difcord at home, even at fo
vaft a diftance. On the whole, therefore, the Danes met
V^ith little or no oppofition from any of thefe nations, noc-»
8 Qeft^ et Vcftigla Danorum in Oriente, p. 66. ' Ibid
with^
the Danes In the Eajl Indies, 15 1
•withftandlng that the ruin of their commerce was looked
"upon as the joint interefl of all. On the contrary, having
nothing to do but to mind their own concerns, they were
generally inclined to render good oflices to fuch as flood in
need of them, fupplying them with proviiions, ammuni-
tion, and arms, when they had occaiion for them ; by
which they were great gainers, and made themfelves
many friends. In procefs of time, as things began to al-
ter, and the Dutch acquired an apparent and a confider-
•able afcendency in the Indies, the Danes, as well as other
nations, felt the eife^ls of it, and found themfelves ex-
cluded from fome of thofe branches of trade, which, with-
in the foregoing period, had turned to the bed account ;
and which, if they could have preferved it, would have
enabled them to fulfil the hopes that were -entertained
from fo profperous a beginning «.
At the fame time that things began to take a wrong Affairs in
turn in refpe£t to their aifairs in the Indies, thofe in Europe Europe
took ftill a worfe. The founder and fupporter of this ^^^ '^^^
commerce, Chriftiern IV. had his attention called o^^asisXT''
from things at fuch a diftance by thofe long and bloody prejudicial
wars, in which, during the lail years of his life, he was to the com'
continually engaged j and which with a very few, and /'**>•
thofe but (hort intervals, lalled for many years after his
deceafe. Thefe trxs)ubles in the North, amongfl other mif-
chievous confequences, had very bad eiFefts on the affairs
of the Danifli company, and put it out of their power to
correfpond regularly with their colony at Tranquebar, as
ufual, a circumflance which of confequenee difabled that
fettlement from fending (hips as ufual into Europe '. This
alteration in their affairs was not only feverely felt by them,
butatthefame time rendered them contemptible to the Euro-
pean nations that were more fortunate, and diminifhed their
credit with the natives; circumdances thatwere equally mor-
tifying and irreparable : neither was it a fmall addition to
thefe untov/ard accidents, that, being altogether unforefeen,
the flate of their commerce did not at all correfpond
with the appearance of the fort and town, which they
had taken care to embeilifh in a manner that diflinguiihed
it from molt of the towns upon the coaft, at leall at
this junfture.
The famous Dutch navigator Walter Schouten, informs
us, that he was there in 1661 ; at which time the Danifh
« Voyage aux Indes Orientales, par Gamier Schouten, torn. I*
P' 577' * Commerce des Danois aux Indes, p. 53,
L 4. fort,
152
Schouiens
account of
the. flate of
Tranque-
Bar about
the year
J66j.
Conquejlsy Settlements^ and Difcoveries of
fort, being a fquare with regular baftions, all built of hard
white {lone, and the town of a large extent, laid out into
long and broad ftreets, under its protection, afforded a
very agreeable profpeCl from the fea. But he obferves, as
if it had been fomething remarkable, that there were two
Daniih fldps in the port, the officers of which were very
civil to thofc of the Dutch {hip called the Red Lion,
on which he was on board. It feems it was no ufual
thing for two fliips to be there together ; and he farther
remarks, that their flags were but rarely feen in other ports
of tlie Indies. He tells us likewife, that they were upon
very bad terms with the Moors, which was one great oc-
cafion of their lofies ; and that the town was fometimes
in danger of being plundered, if it had not been for the
fuccours received from the fortrefs, in which there is
always a pretty good garrifon of European troops. The
town, he farther fays, was inhabited by TopafTes, Gen-
toos, and Moors, all of whom, according to the cuftom
of that country, pay an annual capitation to the Danes,
as an acknovv^ledgment for their defending them in time of
ganger ".
. SECT. III.
The liferent Shifts to which the Danijh Colony are
forced to kav^ recourfey in order to maintain them-
felves in Pcfjffion of their Fortrefs, Attached by
the Naick of -fanjour with fuperior Forces, Gene*
roufly affified by the Englifh^ to whofe gallant Beha-
inour they fiand indebted for the Prejervqtion of
*Tranquebar, andy of confequence, their Footing in
the Indies.
Methods
fraSifed
by the Da-
mfh com-
pany's fer-
'vantSj in
order to
fuppo'-t
that co-
A S it requires infinitely more (kill to condudl a vefTel in
"^ Itorms, ^or through ftreights befet with rocks and
fhoals, than, in fair weather or in the open fea ; fo in a
fituation like this, v/hen the mother-cpuntry was able to
do little or nothing, we cannot with any colour of juftice
deny, that the managers of the Danifh commerce deferved
commendation for keeping their affairs on foot, rather
than contempt for the mean condition they were in. The
« Voyage aux Indes Orieatales de Gautier Schouten, vol. i.
p. 577.
methods
the Danes in the Eaft Indies, 153
methods by which they did this merit explanation. In the
firil; place, the revenue of the tOM'n of Tranquebar aitord-
ed a fubfiftence for the garrifon, which, though not very
confiderable, was regularly paid, and kept conftantly com-
plete. The fmall fadories they had on the Malabar coaft,
their lodge at Chinchurat, and fome other places in Bengral,
and a more confiderable fettlement at Bantam, furniflied
them with feveral kinds of commodities and manufa6^ures,
which were embarked, as occafion ferved, on board the
veflels they fent to Surat, into the bay of Bengal, to the
ftreights of Malacca, and to the ifland of Celebes «^. This
country trade, if they had driven it entirely upon their
own bottom, would not only have kept them from want,
but procured them wealth, at leaft under a frugal manage-
ment. The cafe, however, was otherwife ; for, not hav-
ing a fufficient capital, they were obliged to let out their
fhips for hire, and to take a great many goods on freight
for Gentoo and Moorifh merchants. Thefe feveral expe-
dients, taken together, kept them in a tolerable condition,
and put it in their power to fend now and then, perhaps
once in two or three years, a Ihjp to Europe \
But though thefe, and other arts of a like kind, might The mano
enable them to go on in peaceable and quiet times, yet it ^^^ /»
could not be fuppofed they fhould afford them any re- '^^!^^^^^
fources, in circumflances of diftrefs or danger, to which j^ofn time
they were foraetimes expofed, and more than once brought to time dif-
to the very brink of ruin. Thefe difficulties chiefly arofe trepdby
from the quarrels they fometimes had with the rajah of '^y^-'f^
Tanjour, who, upon very frivolous pretences, interrupted ^^ ^"P^^^
their communication by land ; and fometimes carried his
refentment fo high, as to befiege their fortrefs and town
with a numerous army y. If we may credit fome accounts,
as fmall and infignificant as the Danifh commerce might
appear in the eyes of their potent competitors, this did not
entirely exempt them from envy, or hinder their covetous
neighbours from offering very confiderable fums for the
port which they polTefled. If the Indian rajah could re-
duce it at other times, being himfelf hard prefied by the
Mogul, he judged it reafonable, or at leaft necefTary, that
his tenants fhould bear a fhare of the hardfhip as well as
himfelf ; and therefore employed force to extort the fums
for which he had occafion, and which, though their ability
w Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, par Guyon, torn. iii. p. 77.
3c Commerce des Danois aux Indes, p. 51. Y Gella el Veftigia
Panorum in Oriente, p. 67.
was
J ^4 ConqueftSy Settlements, and Difcoveries of
was very fmall, the Danes were compelled to furnlfh.
When under thefe preflures, it has been infinuated, that
they took very bold and unwarrantable fleps to extricate
themfelves. An inftance of this, we are afiured by a
countryman of our's, happened in J684, when, through
accidents of this fort, and the additional calamity of a
famine, they were reduced fo low as to pawn three of their
baftions to the Dutch, for fuch a fum of money as might
keep the garrifon, and the people of the town, from ftarv-
ing. Thefe, however, they redeemed the next year; but
how they acquired the means of doing it, was a fecret in
the Indies. Some fufpicions there were, however; be-
caufe an Englifh country (hip, called the Formofa, bound
to Surat, which in her paflage called at Calicut for water,
wood, and other ftores, never reached her port; and a
great firing of guns was heard from fea not long after fhe
failed from Calicut ; and two Danifh fhips were at that
time cruifing from Cape Commorin to Surat, circum-
llances that occafioned great doubts which were never
cleared up *.
Imputa- It is without doubt a very unbecoming thing in a hifto^
tteas on tht rj^n f^ throw out national reflexions, or to deliver as
Danes m iyitlUcts of fa£l: what may fuggeft them, when no authority
Jhhs taken, ^^" ^^ brought to fupport thofe fa6ls beyond tlit power
or jvppofed of contradiction ; and for this reafon we have been fo
to betaken^ tender in mentioning what the reader may find very roundly
tjfthem, afferted in feveral books of voyages; and which it is cer-
tain is an opinion commonly received in the Indies, whe-
ther well grounded or not. Taking it for granted that it
is not altogether without foundation, that piracies are faid
to have been committed by fhips under the Danifh flag,
the fame perhaps may be alfo faid of other nations ; and
the French accounts of Madagafcar furnifh us with in-
llances of their iliips cruifing upon the Moors without any
colour of juftice, and without fo much as the excufe of
xiecefTity or diflrefs ^. But, as thefe are things of a very
odious nature, we will dwell upon them no longer, but
return to the current of our hiftory ; which leads us to
Ihew, that the Englifli were much better neighbours to
the Danes than fome other people, who made no fcruple
of taking advantage from their diftrefs ^ ; wJiereas our
countrymen not only contributed to relieve them from a
2 Hamilton's Account of the Eaft Indies, vol. i. p. 352. ^ Hif-
lo^re tie g-antle Ifle de Madagafcar, par Monfjeur Fiacourt,
* ilarris's Voyages, vol. i. p. 977.
principle
I
the Banes in the Rafi Indies. ' 155
principle of friendfhip and generofity, but did it alfo at
their own coft, and to their own lofs.
About the clofe of the laft century, when Mr. Pitt was fhe rajak
the Englifh governor at Fort St. George, a propofition is ojTanjour
faid to have been made to the rajah of Tanjour, for the ^'ff'^Ji. "
purchafe of Tranquebar, at no lefs rate than fifty thoufand ^^jf^^J^j
pardoes in ready money, when it fhould be in his power ofTran-
to deHver it. The Danes having early intelligence of this quebar,
intrigue, applied to the Englilh for fuccour, which was
generoufly promifed, and afterwards as pun(5i;ually per-
formed. The rajah of Tanjour, having once refolved
upon this entcrprize, aflembled an army cf between thirty
and forty thoufand men, with which he marched (Iraight
towards Tranquebar. The Indians were fo extremely
cautious, that they began to open their trenches above a
mile from the town, and carried on two attacks. The
earth being a dry fand, they drove down the bodies of
cocoa-nut trees inftead of Itakes, both on the infide and
on the out, and filled up the fpace between them with
fand, fo that their trenches were almoft as thick as a
town-wall, and very high, fo that they were perfeftly co-
vered from the Danifti fire. They had about twenty or .
thirty thoufand men employed in this fiege ; and with
incredible labour and patience, in about five month's, they
brought down their trenches within piftol-fliot of the
walls, and with their batteries had almoft ruined one of
the baftions, when the Englifh reinforcements arrived.
The Danes expected every day an alTault, and were pre-
paring to move their effecSls into the fort and quit the
town j and indeed they gave the enemy very little difturb-
ance in carrying on their works, for the garrifon did not
confift of more than two hundred Europeans, as many
Indian Portuguefe, and about a thoufand blacks 5 and,
befides the fort, they had to defend the circumference of
the town-wall, which was not lefs than a mile and a half.
It was faced with ftone, but had no ditch ; and therefore
the Danes, to prevent the enemy's fcaling it, had fet high
pallifadoes upon the top of the ramparts.
A day or tvi-o after the Englifh arrived, a fally was re- Gallant be-
foived; and about fun-rife a detachment of the blacks hanjiourof
marched out, and were followed by the Englifh ; but the ^j^^ vff/j^j
blacks were no fooner out of the gateSj than they opened
to the right and left, and made room for the Englifli to
advance. A body of the enemy moved out of their
trenches, and came on in tolerable order, with their
l>road fwords and fliields, without (hooting ?.n arrow or
i;r;ng
155 Conqucfts, Settlement s^ and Difcoveries of
firing a piece. They were all decently clothed with white
veils and turbans, and feemed determined to engage hand
to hand in the plain between the town and the trenches.
The Englifh officers were in fome pain, feeing this body
of Indians advance with fo good a countenance, knowing
their men were new raifed, and mixed with Portuguefe,
on whom there is very little dependence 5 but the great
guns from the walls beginning to play, put them into con-
fufion. They retired to their trenches with precipitation,
and our men advancing, drove them (till farther; but
there being no preparations made for levelling the trenches,
and the day growing hot, the Englifh retired into the
tov/n, and the enemy returned into their works without
any great lofs on either fide.
Bv the help -^ ^^^ ^^y^ 2ihe.v it was refolved to make another fally
of ivhich with the greateft part of the garrifon ; and accordingly they
the Danes marched out at the great gate oppofite to the principal at-
t9rnpelthe ^^^^^^ 'pj^g black foldiers, according to cuftom, retired
^anieurto ^^^'^^^ the walls almoft as foon as they were out, to make
rai/s the room for the Europeans. The enemy kept clofe in their
Jkge* trenches, firing continually. Between the two attacks
upon the plain flood a confiderable body of mufketteers and
pikemen, againft whom the Englifh commander thought
fit to advance j but had not marched many paces before a
ball wounded him in the middle of his foot, an accident
■which compelled him to quit the field. The next officer
took the command, and led them towards the enemy,
■who were drawn up in the plain. That body retreating,
drew the Englifh fo far from the town, that they were in-
tercepted by the Mooriih horfe •, and the Danes, who the
Englifh expefted would have fupported them, never ad-
vanced a ilep. In this exigency the Englifli officer having
thrown fome grenades into the trenches, the Indians were
fo complaifant as to quit them, and make room for the
Englifli, who marched quite along them towards the town,
till they came to the end of the works ; but here they were
met by the Moorifh horfe ; yet upon m.aking one gene-
ral fire, in which great execution was done, the horfe
fcoured off, and left the Englilli at liberty to march on to
the walls, where they found the Danes drawn up in per-
fect fecurity. In this aOion the Englifh were, one half
of them, killed or wounded ; but however, it was by this
feafonable affiftance that the Danes preferved this town
andfortrefs; for, foon after, the rajah of Tanj our, grow-
ing weary of a war that haiafTed his fubjeds, and brought
him*
the Danes in the Eajl Indies. 157
himfelf no advantage, retired into his own territories,
and left the Danes at liberty to purfuc their trade, and re-
ftore their Ihattered affairs as well as ihey could =.
SECT. IV.
Frederic IF. takes the Refolution of employing Miffionaries
to preach the Chriftian Faith amongfi the Pagans*
ne Steadinefs zvith which ^ in Spite of all Difcourage-
ments, this excellent Dejign has been purfued. An
accurate Account of the Danijh Settlement, Fortrefs,
Port, adjacent Country, Dependencies, prefent Condi^
tion, and future Profpe^s from the Colony at Tran-
quebar. Some Conje^ures on this Subje5i, and the
Arguments for and againfi the Danijh Schemes truly
and clearly ftated.
T> Y thefe, and other accidents, the commerce of Tran- ])anl/h
^-^ qiiebar was exceedingly reduced at the beginning of mijfionaries
the prefent century, notwithftanding all the care that J^^ ^^
thofe entrufled with the management of the company's J^^'iJ^V-
affairs could take ; they therefore thought themfelves at iretUrk
liberty to divert a part of their attention to putting things ir,
upon the fpot in the beft condition poihble, that, by en-
larging the town, and encreafing the number of her fub-
je6fs, their revenue at once might be augmented, and
rendered more certain. In order to farther this fcheme,
the Danifh company, having applied to their monarch,
Frederic the Fourth, a prince of fincere piety, as well as
great clemency and prudence, he enquired narrowly into
the (late of religion, which he apprehended ought to have
been one of their principal objefts in the condu6l of that
colony ; and receiving a very unfatisfacflory account, he
determined to fend over miffionaries thither ; an aftion
equally worthy of a Chriftian prince, and of a found po-
litician''. Upon this occafion recourfe was had to the
celebrated Dr. Francke, divinity profeflbr of the univerfity
of Halle, in Saxony, a man equally diftinguifhed for his
learning, piety, and difinterefted zeal for religion ; who,
from amongft his numerous difciples, made choice o£
c Gefta et Vcftigia Danorum in Oriente, p. 67. d HamiU
XcixC% Account of the Eaft Indies, vol. i. p. 352*'
two
158 Conquejls^ Settlements, and Dlfcoveries of
two, Bartholomew Ziegenbalg and Henry Plutfchau,
whom he recommended as perfecftly quaHfied for fo ar-
duous an undertaking *. Thefe, therefore, were received
in that quality 'by his Daniih majefty, and orders given
that they fhould be fent by the next {hips into the Indies.
Accordiilgly, on the 25th of November, 1705, at Copen-
hagen, they embarked on board the Princefs Sophia Hed-
wigh, and arrived in the month of April following at the
Cape of Good Hope*, and failing from thence again on
the 8th of May, they entered the harbour of Tranque-
bar, on the coall of Coromandel, in the beginning of
July, 1706 ^
Chftacks 'iheir countrymen gave them but little encouragement
they mH upon their firft coming over ; and were fo far from fhew^
-with, ing any extraordinary zeal for this new eilablifhment,
that they made no fcruple of treating it as a proje£l chi-
merical and impraclicable j into which belief they were
led from a perfuafion, that the miffionaries would never
be able to learn the Damulian language, which is com-
monly fpoken throughout Malabar, to fuch a degree of
perfection as to preach it fluently to a people naturally
fond of oratory, and efteemed to fpeak their own lan-
guage more correctly than any of the nations in their
neighbourhoods.. This confideration did not at all dif-
courage our miffionaries, who within a fliort time fet up
a Portuguefe fchool, where they taught poor thildren
gratis. They next took a Malabar fchool-m after, with all
his difciples, amongft whom they entered themfelves, and
were content to learn to read and write that language with
the children ; which they did with fuch affiduity, that in
a year's time they became mafters of it, and could read,
write, and fpeak it, as well as any of the natives *'. Mr.
Ziegenbalg continued his apoftolic labours with indefatig-
able zeal till February 23d, 1719, when, being abfolutely
worn out with his incredible fatigues, he departed this
life when not full thirty-fix years of age. As for Mr.
Plutfchau, being of a weaker conftitution, he was forced,
after preaching there for fome years, to return home ; but
his place was fupplied by others, who, following the
example of Mr. Ziegenbalg, promoted vigoroufly the de-
fign upon which they were fent, and made many con-
* Propagation of the Gofpcl in the Eaft, p. jii. p, 2. f Gefta
€t Vtdiiiia Danonim in Oriente, vol. i. p. 74. g Propagation
of The Gofpel in the Eall, p. i p. 26, 27. ^ Killoire du Chii-
ftianifme des Indes; parMonf. La Croze, p. 537. Propagation of
the Gofpel in the Eaft, p, iii. p. 8. '
verts.
the Dam In the Eaft Indies. 159
verts. In the courfe of their miffion they met with many
difficulties and difcouragements *, but by an indefatigable
diligence and exemplary life, and a fervent zeal for that
gofpel they preached, overcame them ail.
We are indebted to the letters pubiilhed from thefe A fuecinSi
worthy miffionaries for the largeft, cleareft, and mod defcriptjm
certain account, that we have of this country, taking in ^( /'^f ^^^'^
the dominions of the Indian prince to whom the fove- P^'^*P^*'!y
reignty belongs, as well as the Danifh colony, which is "^ '
our proper fubje£l. The principality of Tanjour extends
in length, from call to weft, about one hundred Englifti
miles ; and in breadth, from fouth to north, about
feventy K This country is extremely well peopled ; and
the Gentoos are here, as they are every where elfe, in-
genious, innocent, and indefatigable. The ordinary re-
venues of the rajah are about feven or eight hundred
thoufand pagodas ; but, like the other princes of the In-
dies, he is fuppofed to have prodigious fums in his trea-
fury K He has always an hundred and forty trained ele-
phants, and about three hundred horfe, with a fmall body
of infantry ; but, when he is difpofed to take up arms,
he can, by the help of his money, raife almofh what num-
ber of men he pleafes ; but thirty or forty thoufand with-
out difficulty. He is notvvithftanding tributary to the
Great Mogul, who fometimes draws from him large fums
beiides his tribute. His capital, which is likewife called
Tanjour, is large, and encompafTed with a ftrpng wall ; and
his caftle, cr place of refidence, fpacious, magnificent,
and well fortified, infomuch that, notwithftanding the
armies of the Mogul have fometimes over-run his country,
yet they have never been able to reduce this place, though
they have befieged it more than once. According to the
computation of our miffionaries, it is diftant from Tran-
quebar about fixty Englifh miles. The rajah of Tanjour
has, befides, three other ftrong places in his territory,
exclufive of the little port of Karical, and the fortrefs
which covers, it ; and which are now fallen into the hands
of the French K .
As to the climate, in the months of Auguft, Septem- TJis nature
ber, and 0£lober, it is temperate and healthy ; the land- "f '^^ '''"-
breeze warm in the mornine, that from the fea, cool and ^^'^' >^^^''
^' ' Jon Si ivea-
ther, and
» Account of the Religion and Government, Learning and of the an-
Oeconomy, of the Malabarians, p. 6. k Tavernier, Le nual alter'
Brun, Dellon, &c. 1 Hilloire des Indes Orientales, to'm. ations
^ii' P- 2^3- therein.
refrefhing
i6o Conquefts^ Settlements^ and Difcoveries of
rcfrefhing in the afternoon. In November, December,
and part of January, the weft wind blows, bringing with
it at the beginning very ftormy weather, much rain, and
ibmetimes froft. From the middle of January to the end
of April the weather is temperate again ; but from May
to the middle of July it is exceflively hot, and fome-
times there is a wind blows as if it came out of an oven
or a furnace ™. In all thefe feafons the nights are not
only temperate, but even chilly : the natives enjoy the
hot, the Europeans the rainy or winter feafon, when every
thing is frefh and green, and a variety of odoriferous flow-
ers, fhrubs, and trees, exhale a fragrance that may be
conceived, but riot defcribed. It is almoft unneceflary to
obferve, that the days and nights are nearly equal. At
the changing of the feafons they have commonly very
tempeftuous weather, attended with terrible ftorms of
thunder and lightning, which frequently do a great deal
of mifchief ; but, with refpect to hail and fnow, they
are never feen in thofe parts, yet their water is fo chilled
in the winter as to give them an idea of ice ".
Fert'ilHf '"^^ ^*^^ ^^^^ ^°^^> ^^ ^^ ^^ itfelf extremely fertile, pro-
of the foUy tiucilig vail: quantities of rice, many forts of nourifhing
honxt iva- roots, and great variety of wholfome herbs, as well for
ie^ed, pro- ^be ufe of the table as for the apothecary's fhop : they
iX^r parti' ^^^^ ^°^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^"^ fruits of which they boaft fo much
rulars re- J" t:he Indies ; and their flowers equally delight the light
lati<ve to and fmell by their beauty and odour. Yet this country
the country, has fcarce any rivers, and but few rivulets, and is not-
withllanding tolerably well watered ; for in the fummer,
there come down land-floods from the northern countries,
which the Gentoos diftribute with fuch dexterity over
their lands, that whatever they cultivate is fufficiently
nouriihed ° : yet, for conftant and domeftic ufe, they
are obliged to have recourfe to well-water, which, if
brought from any diftance, bears a confiderable price for
that country ; and, on this account, in all the roads, at
the diftance of a league, or a little more, there are very
neat ftru«^l:ures built by charitable and public-fpirited per-
fons, where travellers may repofe themfelves as long as
they think proper, and are in many accommodated with
^ Account of the Religion and Government, Learning and
Oeconomy, of the Malabarians, p. ii, 12, 13. " Voyage
aux Iruies Onentales, par Gautier Schouten, torn, i. p. 593. Def-
cription of the Coalt of Coromandel, by Baldaeus. * Ac-
count of the Religion and Government, Learning and Oeconomy,
of the Malabarians, p. i7--2o«
water
the Danes in the Eaft Indies. |6r
water gratis p. There are alfo'in the country of Tan-
jour very fine meadows and paflures, well {locked v/ith
cattle of different forts. On the coafts they have plenty
of good fifli j and birds and fowl, tame and wild, in
^reat variety. In fhort, the country affords every thing
that can render it commodious and pleafimt, to fuch as
are difpcfed to live in a manner fuitable to the dictates of
nature and right reafon, that is, temperately m all refpefts 5
for it mud be owned, that exceffes are always dangerous,
and fometimes fatal ; but thofe, who are careful in avoid-
ing thefe, commonly enjoy a good ftate of health <5.
The natives are naturally fenfible and ingenious, very The genius,
capable of being inflruiled in all forts of learning, and Tnanhers,
have a furprifing facility in acquiring mechanic arts. The ^"/^ ^^'
Malabaric language is faid to be divided into eighteen 0' th^^na-.
dialetls, the principal of which are thefe three*, the Ke- ti<ves, ex-
rendum, which may be ftyled the tongue of the learned, tent of their
being chiefly ufed by the Bramins, and confined to their ^^^gua^e,
religious myfteries ; the Damulian, which is the proper ^^^^^°'^y
and polite language of all the Gentoos in this pen i nf ula, y?^;,^^.^.
taking in the compafs of more than three thoufand Eng-
lifn miles ; the Wardagis, fpoken in the northern coun-
tries, which differs from the Damulian in the (ame de-
gree as the Scottifh from the Englifli language ^ The
drefs of the natives is clean, thin, and flight, for the
conveniency of being ealily thrown off when they are
inclined to bathe, which they do frequently. As to their
manners, the better fort of them are honeft, courteous,
and civil ; the common people rude and unpoliihed, as in
other places. There are many rich and great men amongft
them ; but the moil part are but in middling circum-
itances, getting their living by the fweat of their brow ;
and, though they work hard, live frugally, and have but
little to depend upon, yet they are commonly chearfal
and content ; and as for beggars, except the faquirs, who
are religious mendicants, there are none ; for the Gen-
toos fay, that he who made the mouth to eat made the
hands to work. As there is little wood, and no timber,,
in this country, the better fort of houfes are built with
brick ; and the poor live in cottages made with clay, and
covered with flraw ; but the Europeans buiid with ftone,
P Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, par Guyon, torn. ii. p, lot,
q Taveinier, Schouten, Hami't«)n, and the Miffion^ries. «" Ac-
count of the Religion and Government, Learning and Oeconomy,
of the Malabarians, p. 8, 9, 10.
Mod. Vol. IX. M only
i62 Conquejlsy Settlements^ and Difcovei'ies of
only one (lory high, yet their rooms are fpacious, airy,
and very commodious. Provifions are ftill very cheap,
though much dearer than they were formerly : the Gen-
toos live upon boiled rice, milk, herbs, and fvi^eetmeats.
The Moors live there as in other places, that is, as vvrell
as they can : as for the Europeans, they have rice, herbs,
eggs, fifh, fowl, hares, veal, mutton, goats, beef, and
pork. The foldiers live comfortably upon two or three
dollars a month ; a Gentoo will live upon one •, and thofe
who fpend high can hardly fpend eight or ten at the moft.
As for the luxuries of the place, they are tea, arrack, and
finken, which is a fort of fmall wine, not made of grapes,
but from the juice of a kind of palm '. The Moors are
implacable enemies to the Gofpel, and very feldom con-
verted. The rajahs, their courtiers, and the bramins,
have alfo an obflinate averdon to the Chriftian faith ; and
the common people are apt to infult thofe who have de-
ferted paganifm : neverthelefs, the Danifh miffionaries
have made a very confiderable progrefs, and excited a
like fpirit amongft their neighbours, the Engliih and Dutch;,
fo that the number of new Chriftians is vaflly increafed,
and they are generally fpeaking modeit and fincere.
Trefent ^h.t town and fortrefs of Tranquebar, according ta
fate cj the the miiBonaries, ftands in the latitude of 1 1 deg. but
toivn and the French maps place it in lo deg. 40 min. and in the
fortrefs of longitude nearly of 78 deg. from the meridian of Parish
'^"'^"^'r The compafs of the city is betv/een two and three miles,
its 'inhabi- fortified vi'ith a good (tone wall, and feveral baflions, well
iants, provided with artillery, and in no great danger of being
Chrijlianr^ taken by all the forces that the Gentoos can bring againfh
Mcors, and -^^ Before the gate that leads into the country ftands a
fine citadel ; and the fort towards the fea is well built,
regular, the ballions fupplied Vv'ith good brafs cannon, and
has commonly a garrifon of three hundred men complete.
Within the walls of the city there are three Chriftian
churches : firft, that of the Jcfuits, or Portuguefe, fettled
before the Danes vv-ent thither, which they have always
tolerated, and treat the papiits upon all occafions with
much civility, though they have not made the moft grate-
ful returns '■'. Zion is the Danifti church belonging to the
garrifon and old inhabitants, where fervice is performed
in the Danifli language, and according to the liturgy of
« Account of the Religion and Government, ^'c. of theMala-
barians, p. 15 « Hiltoire des Indes Oi ientalts, p. joi, 102.
u Hiitoiie da Chriftianifme des Iiidcs, p. 536, 557.
that
I
the Banes in the Eaft Indies, 163
that church. The third is that of Jerufalem, built by
the miffionaries, confecrated on the 14th of Auguft, 1707.
Every Sunday morning they preach there in Portuguefe,
and in the evening in the DamuHan tongue, and the
children are catechifed immediately after fermon ; the
fame exercife is repeated every Friday. There is alfo a
large mofque for the Mohammedans ; and five great pa-
godas, or pagan temples, for the Gentoos ^. We may
eafily collect from hence, that, taking in Chriftians of every
denomination. Moors, and Gentoos, the place is very
populous, more efpecially at certain feafons, when the
convenience of trading w^ith other Europeans invites thi-
ther ftrangers from the adjacent countries. We find no
exa£t computation made either of the whole number of
its inhabitants, or of the Chriftians, Moors, or Gentoos,
that dwell there. Yet fome writers, who were well ac-
quinted with the affairs of the Indies, affure us, that,
after Batavia, Tranquebar is the handfomeft and beft built
place in the hands of the Europeans ^
The diilri61: belonging to this town, which belongs alfb The dtjIriSt
to the Danes, is of a very confiderable extent, full of vil-*- of Tran-
lages, and thofe crouded with people* The moft confi-^ ^^t^Th*
derable of thefe villages is Borejar, in u'hich there are to^„s and
thought to be very near as many inhabitants as in Tran-^ 'villages
quebar. The Moors have feveral mofques, and within (hat he
thefe thirty years they have built a new one ; and the Gen- ^^^r^^l*j
toos alfo have feveral large and fplendid pagodas ; but the ^ *
faireft and moft pleafant of their villages is Tilllar, in
which refide forty bramins, who have houfes perfecSlly
clean and neat. The road to Tilliar from Tranquebar is
fet with a double row of trees, which bear red, white,
and yellow flowers, not unlike our lilies ; and, as thefe
are frefli and green through the year, they render travel^
ling, even in that hot country, very agreeable. Befides thefe
there are feven other places ; viz. Tfandarapari, Kottu-
paleam, Erukittantfcheri, Tfchattanguri, Dev^anallur, Oru-
wamangalam, and Tfchenkitankerei, which, though far
inferior to the former, yet are all of them well inhabited,
with a pagod in each, and the grounds about them are
well cultivated. There are ftill fix more villages ; viz.
Pommeampoettei, Killinfchimedu, Calinkaraipoettei, Sing-
nurpoettei, Akkamenpoettei, and Elamenpoettei, the in-
y Account of the Religion and Government, Learning and
Oecononiy, of the Malabarians, p. a. ^ Commerce de$
Panois aux Indes, p. 93.
M 2 habitants
164
Account of
the har-
bour and
road, as
alfo of the
Jbipping
belonging
10 the
place*
ConquefiSy SettlemntSy and Dlfcoveries of
Kabltants of which are fifliermen, and fuch kind of people
who acquire a fubfiftence by fupplying the town of Tran-
quebar with fifli ; and alfo ply with their boats along the
coaft, carrying goods from place to place, as occafions
require '.
The port and road of Tranquebar, though not much to
be commended, yet are as fafe and commodious as any in
their neighbourhood, and capable of admitting large vef-
fels ; fo that a famous Dutch writer had good reafon to
fay, it was ftrange the Danes made no better ufe of this
place, though there feems to be no good grounds for his
adding, that they had as good or better opportunity than
the Englilh. In refpe61: to thofe who refide there, the
commerce is not altogether inconfiderable ; for, by the
help of the Gentoo merchants, they maintain fome kind
of correfpondence with the people of the ifland of Ceylon,
though they can trade only in fmall veflels, and by ileal cli,
as it is no eafy matter to efcape the vigilance of the Dutch,
with whom alfo they have fome dealings ^. They fllll
keep up a few fmall factories on the pepper-coaft, and
have a lodge with a fine garden on the coaft of Bengal,
to which they have fent fome miiTionaries of late to preach
the Gofpel. It feems to be their great misfortune, that
they are very feldom upon good terms with the rajah of
Tanjour, who fcarce ever ilnds himfelf in any tolerable
flate of fecurity, but he thinks of falling on the Danes ^.
In 1718, he attacked them with the whole force of his
country ; and though he was then obliged to raife the
fiege, yet it has been conjectured that pieces of eight pre-
vailed more than bullets. Since that time there hav.e been
fo great diftradtions on the coaft of Coromandel, that they
have been lefs in danger than formerly j and as their trade
is now reviving, it is very probable that they will find the
means of rendering themfeives more acceptable, or more
formidable to this Indian prince '^ (N).
The
a Account of the Religion and Government, Learning and Oeco-
nomy of the Malabarians, p. 3, 4.. b From the Letters of tb«
Miflionaries. c Hiitoire des Indes Orientales, torn. ii. p. loi.
<i Gefta et Veftigia Danonun in Oriente, torn. i. p. 74..
(N) A great part of what is
fuggerted in the text has been
actually effected ; lince by the
conceilion of the town and fort-
refs of Tranquebar to the Da-
nifii Eail: India company, up-
on the renewal of their char-
ter, who are obliged to keep
the garrifon complete, to pay
the annual rent to the rajah of
Tanjour,
the Danes in the Eqft Indies, 1^5
The fclieme in which they are engaged of converting Benefits
the Indians to the Chriftian faith cannot fail of producing ^^Julting^
very beneficial confcquences. Thofe converts, and their °^^^ '^^ ^
defcendants, will be fo many loyal and ufeful fubje£ls to />^^ {he
the Danilh government, and may by degrees be employ- '/»r,?/>tf^ar-
c.l in very different caj.acities j and it has been already ob- ^^.? '^'f
ferved, that, with a very fmall afhltance, they apply ^-h^^^fj^^^
themfelves to fome kind of trade or other, and get a com--'^' **
fortable livelihood. They may be alfo difciplined, and
made at leall better foldiers than any of their c-juntrymen.
Befides, it is found that the refentment (hewn againfl
thefe new converts, v.^hen the milhonaries iirfl went over,
by their own nation, which was fo great that they were
frequently obliged to quit their country, begins to wear
out, and the Indian Chriftians live at prefent in good
correfpondence vv'ith their Pagan relations. As thefe
' people are naturally fober and induflrious, as well as fin-
cereiy devout, fo there is nothing plainer than that the
acquifition of numbers of fuch perfons muft add both
ilrength and wealth to their mafters. Vv^e may therefore
expeSl, in progrefs of time, to fee the face of things ex«
tremely altered in this part of the world, where the raif-
ing new commodities, for which their foil is as fit as any
of the adjacent regions, and the introducing new manufac-
tures, v/ould either excite the. Danes who refide there to
aim at extending their commerce, or induce fome of their
neighbours, v/ho have more money, to fettle amongfi:
them, and both encourage them by their example, and
affill them for the fake of their ov/n intereft, which has
been the cafe elfewhere ^.
It may pofhbly be obje(lled, that thefe conjectures are ObjeSlions
not very agreeable to facl:s ; that, fmce ^ the fcheme of ^^'^^ *^°y ^*
fending mifnonaries from Denmark, the concerns of the ^^"J,,^^, '^ ^
Eafh India company declined; the little trade they '^'^^ fore ad-
.grew lefs ; and the reil of the European niUions, who had -uanced,
* a':d their
c Kiftoire du Chriftianifme des Indes. p. 568. ^ anfiuers,
Tanjour, and to defray the flant and regular trade to the
public expences of the govern- coaft of Coromandel, the bay
ment fettled there As this of Bengal, and the port of
commerce hiis been ever lince Canton in China, there is no
increafmg, and as the com- doubt that gradual improve-
pany h-ave at prefent a con- ments are daily making (i),
(1) Recueil Iviftorique d'A(nes, Negotiations, Meraoires, et
Traitcz, par M. RouITet, torn. v. p. la.
M 3 not
1 56
^he contU
nuance of
this colony
the caufe
cf re'viv-
ing the
commerci
from Den-
mark to
China*
Conquefts^ Settlements^ and DifcoverJes of
not taken much notice of them before, began in a great
meafure to forget that there was fuch a thing as a
Panifli company or colony ^ There is no doubt that
much of thefe allegations might be difproved *, and that
without difficulty it might be fhewn, that this objection
has been a6lually made already. "What has been before
advanced is very confonant to experience as v^^ell as rea-
fon J for, though the affairs of the Danifh Eaft India com-
pany might not mend, but rather grow worfe from this
period, yet the condition of the colony grew better daily ?.
Their villages augmented, the people lived better, and the
government of Tranquebar found itfelf more and more
fecure. Befides, the ftated accounts given by the mif-
fionaries, the return of fome of them upon neceflary oc-
cafions into Europe, and the rumours that were fpread by
the feamen employed in the company's fervice, were at-
tended with extraordinary confequences ; fmce there is
hardly a country in Europe which has not heard of, and
approved this meafure.
As foon as a new fpirit of commerce fprung out of thofe
neceffities which the love of money and gaming had pro-
duced, and thofe great powers that were polTefTed of it,
fhewed a juft perfuafion of its value by the zeal which
they exprefled againfl the firll attempts made to change
its courfe, Denmark was next thought of j and that com-
pany, which had been fo much negle£l:ed, was confidered
as a foundation upon which a noble fuperftrudlure might
be raifed.
*■ Hamilton's Account of the Eaft Indies, vol. i. p. 351,
? Qelta et VeftigiaDancrum in Oriente, torn. i. p, 74..
SECT,
the Danes in the Eaft hidks. \6y
S E C T. V.
Propofttion made to the late King of Denmark for ere^l-
ing a new Company for carrying on the Commerce of
the Indies, An Abfh'aEl of his Majefty's Charter^
and an Account of the Progrefs of this Undertake
ing. It gives Umbrage^ from the critical Conjunc'
ture in which it was fet on foot^ to the Maritime
Powers, who vigor oufly oppofe it: appears to be a
confolidating Scheme, in zvhich the old Danifh Eajl
India Company being comprehended, it fiands on a
quite different Bafis from that at Ofiend*
T ] PON the ruin of the Oftend company, a Dutchman, q-^e propo-
^^ whofe name was Jo fi ah van Afperen, who had been fal made
concerned in that affair, went to Copenhagen, where he '^'^ *^'* ^^'
applied himfelf to king Frederic IV. a prince of great ^^y^^ ^^
goodnefs and virtue, who had nothing more at heart than the court
promoting the welfare of his fubjedls by all the means that of Den-
lay in his power *. The fcheme propofed by Mr. Afperen marky by
to his Danifli majefty had a very fair appearance, and ^' '^^
great probability of fuccefs : he obferved, that there was a jf ^ *
ftrong fpirit raited of opening a new trade to the Indies \
that many people, who were very well verfed in that trade,
had engaged in the fervice of the Oftend company, the
fuccefs of which would unqueftionably have anfwered
their expeftations, if they could have carried it on ; that
the caufes of its ruin were fuch as could not attend that
project in any other country, but leaft of all in Denmark^
■which had enjoyed an uninterrupted commerce to the In-
dies for above a century ; that therefore there was no-
thing farther neceflary to render the Danifh company as
flourilhing as thofe of England and Holland, than to in-
creafe its capital by opening a new fubfcription upon ad-
vantageous terms '. By the force of tlv^fe arguments the
liing was prevailed upon to fuffer his fcheme to be put iu
execution ; and, that it might be done more conveniently,
the Danifh Eafl India company was transferred from the
city of Copenhagen to the borough of i'\ltena, a place be-
longing to the crown of Denmark, but fituated clofe .to
^ Di6^ionaire d$ Commerce, torn. iv. 90I i!44« * ilift<?irc dea
Indes Oiientales, torn, iii- p, 73.
M 4 the
i68
Subfiance
of the
charter
granted by
his Vanijb
tnajefly to
the com-
pany trans-
ferred to
Altena,
Conquejfsy Settlements^ and Difcoverks of
the rich and free city of Hamburgh, and therefore mad^
choice of upon this occafion ''.
In order to induce foreigners to engage in ^ this under-
taking, his Danilh majefty thought fit to grant a new-
charter, dated in April, 1728, for promoting the com-
merce of the faid cc npany to the Indies, China, and Bengal,
the chief articles of which were thefe ^ : namely, the new
fubfcribers fhall have an equal {hare and right with the
■ old members in all the conceffions, oftroys, and privileges
granted to the faid company by his prefent majefly, and his
augufl predeceflbrs ; and likewife in all the forts, fettle-
ments, revenues, houfes, magazines, fliips, eifefts, and in
fhort whatever the company is poffefled of at this day, or
may acquire in time to come ; the old fhares or acfions,
which are in number two hundred and fifty, of one thou-
fand rixdollars each, fhall fubfift and remain ^s they are,
and fhall have the fame right as the new fhares : the di-
rectors fliall declare and affirm, upon their honour, that
all the debts of the company do not exceed one hundred
and fixty thoufand rixdollars in fpecie : the united com-
pany are obliged to difcharge and pay the faid fum of one
hundred and fixty thoufand rixdollars, upon condition
that the old fhares fhall have no dividends till the year
1733 : though there is no queftion that the accounts of
the company are juft, and that their debts do not exceed
the faid fum of one hundred and fixty thoufand rixdollars,
it is neverthelefs ftipulated, that, if the faid debts fhould
appear to exceed the faid fum, the old fliares fhall be an-
fwerable for the overplu , and that the new fubfcribers
Hiall not be obliged to contribute thereunto : each new
Ihare fhall be one thoufand rixdollars in bank, or fpecie,
"whereof twenty per cent, fliall be paid upon the account
of Mr. Alexander Bruguier, banker at Hamburgh, or in
the manner prefcribed in the proje6l publilhed by the com-
pany at Copenhagen, December 16, 1727 : if there was
any abfolute- necefiity to nlake a farther call the prefent
year, 1727, the fame fhall not exceed five, or ten percent,
at fartheft : the call for the n-ext year fliall not exceed
twenty or twenty-five per cent, the remainder of the fub-
fcription fliall not be called in without the refolution and
determination of a general court of the company : if the
entire fum of the faid one thoufand rixdollars for the new
^ Recueil fliftonque d'A£les, Negotiations, Memoires, et Trai-
tez, par M. Rouflet, torn. v. p. 2. ^ Corps Univerfelle Diplo-
matique du Droit des Gens, torn, viiii p- ii. p. 150.
adlions
the Danes in the Eaft Indies, 169
■a£lions is not paid in the year 1738, the proprietors of the
pld {hares ihall have an intereft at the rate of five percent,
allowed them for the fum they have paid more and above
the new fubfcribers : there will be no other adions tlian
ihares of one thoufand rixdollars, and half fhares of five
hundred rixdollars each : every fubfcriber fhali be allowed
^otake fliaresfor the bearer, figned by the company; and
fuch as pleafe may have them mfcribed in the company's
bocks : there (hall be paid for each transfer two rixdollars
to the company, and half a rixdollarto the poor : the cre-
ditors of the company are allowed to take new a£lions for
the fums due to them, provided they difcount on the faid
debts thirty per cent, for the prefent year for each ihare,
and twenty-five per cent, for the next : the ihares they
fhall purchafe on this condition fhall have the fame divi- ,
dends as the other new afticns : the faid (hare fliall not be
liable to any feizure or ftop upon any account whatfoever,
as it is declared in his majelly's o£lroy : the direftors fliall
yearly communicate to the fubfcribers an exaft and par-
ticular account of the affairs of the company : the divi-
dend lliail be regulated upon the faid account in a general
court of the company, by the majority of voices : the di-
re£lors are not allowed to undertake any trade but the
commerce in the Eaft Indies upon the company's account,
without the confent of the members thereof; and ftill lefs
ihall they difpofe of or lend the company's money to any
perfon v/hatfcever, for which they are to be anfwerable in
iolldo in their own name and eilate : they fhall take an
oath of exact obfervation of this ardcle ; and, for a faith-
ful adminiftration of the affairs of the company for the
common benefit and advantage of the members thereof:
all the merchandize which Ihall be fold in any other place
than Copenhagen, fhall be paid in the bank at Hamburgh,
to one or more merchants, and moft fubftantial traders,
for the company's account : tliefe merchants fhall be cho-
itn and appointed, in a general court, by a majority of
voices, and in no other way upon any pretence whatfo-
ever : the faid merchants, or caihiers, fnall pay no money
but upon orders figned by three or four of the directors at
leaft : the money to be paid this year fhall be at the dif-
pofal of the prefent direftors, till new ones to be added
to them are chofen : the money arifing by the new fub-
fcriptions fliall be paid out in fending fhips to Tranque-
bar, Bengal, and China, and for no other ufc whatfoever :
no more m.oney fliall be kept in cafh than what will be
necellary for the fitting out and fending of {hips, as in the
preceding
170 ConqueJIs, Settlements^ and Dtfcoverm of
preceding article : a general court of the company fhall be
caJled as foon as poffible, in order to choofe four new di-
redors out of the new fubfcribers, who may be all fo-
reigners.
^henemj On the publication of this new charter, and Mr. Van
«/ thn com- Afperen's foliciting his friends and correfpondents in Hol-
airfat"^^ land to take a (hare in this fubfcription^ a great inclination
alarm to appeared to follow his advice "^ ; but as this could not
the fubjeSs fail of giving great offence, more efpecially to thofe who
»/ ike ma- were in the dire61:ion or fervice of other Eaft India com-
JflS^i panies, it was not long before meafures were taken to
intimidate him, and to take ofF thofe impredions that his
applications had made ". Thefe practices certainly gave
fome check to that fpirit which appeared in foreign coun-
tries in favour of thisdeiign, which, notwithftanding, had
fo great fuccefs, that thofe entrufled with the adminillra-
tron of the company's affairs, began to make preparations
for fuch an expedition as might give them credit °. Se-
veral perfons alfo, well verfed in the Eaft India trade, re-
paired to- Copenhagen, and fliewed an inclination to enter
into the fervice, where they were kindly received, and
often eonfulted ^ by which means this important fubje£l
came to be not barely known, but generally underfiood in
that country; fo that, not only great expectations were
raifed of the fuccefs which might attend this fcheme, but
alfo a warm zeal for promoting it to the utmoil, and this
amongft every order of men, upon that fenfible and falu-
tary principle, that whatever contributed to the public
benefit ought to be esteemed a thing of public concern p.
When affairs were thus circumftanced, preparatives, as
it was very natural, were made with all imaginable vigour*
Jkska^' As foon as it was certainly known that the Daniili Eaft
^iicatmuta i^^l<^ company were actually upon the point offending
%lm!tark^ Ihipsto the Eail Indies, agreeable to their plan, and to
5)/ thdr ^^^^ power given them by their charter, a refolution v/as
minifiirs. taken by the maritime powers to zGt in concert in this
affair, and to endeavour to deprive the new company
of their fole fupport, which was his Danifb majefty's
charter of incorporation. It was with this view that
orders were fent to lord Glenorchy and Mr. d'Affen^
feldt, the minifters of Great Britain and Holland at the
court of Denmark, to act jointly in this affair, and to ufe
m IliftoJre des Indes Crientales, torn, iii, p. 73. n Hiftorical
Regiiter, vol. xitj. p. 204, 205, 206. ^ Mercure Hiftorique et
Politique, torn, txxxiv. p, 199, P Di6tionaire de Commerce^
toai. iv. col. 1144..
their
the Danes in the Eqft Indies. 171
their utmoft induftry to procure the repeal of the powers
granted to this fociety ; and in confequence of the inftruc-
tions, thofe minifters foon after drew up and prefented
the following paper to the court of Denmark ^ :
" His majefty the king of Great Britain, and their
High Mightinefles the States General of the United Pro-
vinces, forefeeing the injury the transferring the Ead India
company from Copenhagen to Altena will do to the com-
merce of their fubjefts j and perceiving with concern,
that almoft at the fame inftant they are making fo great
efforts to (top the progrefs of the Oflend company, the
king of Denmark, their good old friend and ally, is fet-
ting up another, equally prejudicial to their fubje(Sl:s, have
ordered the fubfcribing minifters to make moft humble
reprefentations to his Danifh majefty, hoping, from his
majefty's friendftiip, that as foon as he fhall be informed
of the uneafinefs this novelty gives them, he will with-
draw the privilege lately granted to the company, and
leave it on the ancient foot as it has always fubfifted at
Copenhagen ; accordingly the fubfcribing minifters defire
your excellency to make a report thereof to the king, and
to procure them a favourable anfwer. Done at Copen-
hagen, July 31, 1728.
Glenorchy and Affenfeldt.
The king of Denmark and his council did not at all re- Progrefs of
lifti this memorial; to which, however, an anfwer was this dif-
given, wherein his Danifh majefty infifted, that the ma- ^"'^*
ritime powers had totally miftaken the point, becaufe it
never was the king's intention to ereft a new company, or
to transfer that, which had now fubfifted above a hundred
^nd ten years, from Copenhagen to Altena "" : that this ap-
peared clearly from the very proje6^ of incorporation,
which granted no new powers to the company, but barely
confirmed the old ones ; that the voyages propofed directly
for China, could not be efteemed an infra61:ion of treaties,
any more than the voyages formerly made by the com-
pany's ftiips from Tranqucbar; that, farther ftill, his
Danifli majefty was not reftrained by any treaty whatever
from maintaining and fupporting the commerce of his
fubje6ls to the Indies, either from their eftablifhments in
that part of the world, or directly from Copenhagen : that
^ Hiftorical Fegjfter, vol. xiii. p. 20?. «" Recueil Hjftorique
d'Aftes, Negotiations, Memoires, et Traitez, par M. Koull'er,
torn, V. p. 35«
the
i 1 1 Conqueftsy Settlements^ and Difcoveries of
the law of nature and nations not only gave-him a right,
"but made it his duty, to promote the welfare of his fub-
J£(fl;s, and to extend their trade as far as it was in his power :
and that, finally, as he did not encourage this commerce,
with any view of injuring the Eaft India companies in
England or Holland, but purely with a dcfign to benefit
his own fubje6ls, he could not difcern how this fhould
expofe him to the refentmenc of any other power what-
ever. How clear and full foever this anfv/er might feeni
to the court of Denmark, it was far enough from giving
any fatisfa£lion to Great Britain and Holland ; and there-
fore a frefli memorial was drawn up, to fhew the infufE-
ciency of this anfwer, and the right which the maritime
powers had to expe6l that his Danifh majeily ihould com-
ply with their demands, and withdraw his protection from
the company. This memorial was delivered by the earl
of Chefterfield, and the deputies from their High Mighti-
nelles the States General,, to Mr. Greys, his Danifn ma-
jefty's minifter at the Hague, in the fummer of the year
1729 % from which time it does not appear that any farther
applications have been made on this fubjeft, or that the
rights of the Daniili Eaft India company have been farther
controverted.
Which This warm oppofition fcemed at firft to anfwer the end
'"/"^i^'^ of the powers that form.ed it, but, in the iffue of things,
'vantalg of ^^^^ really favourable to the defign of the Danes. Frederic
theoldEaJi the Fourth, who was at this time drawing towards fixty,
Judia com- and was equally unwilling to perplex himfelf with dif-
t^'^J- putes, or to facrifice the rights of his crown, and the in-
terefts of his fubje6ls, declined the fupport of the Altena
company j but at the fame time recommended the Fall
India commerce to the care of the prince royal his fon,
who not long after fucceeded him by the title of Chriftiern
VI ^ This conduct had a double efFe£l ; for it prevented
thofe from int^efting themfelves in the capital of the Eaft
India company, .M^ho had nothing in vifcw beyond trading
in a6lions; and it put many others upon refolving to con-
tributing all in their power towards re-eflablilhing a
commerce, the value of which was fujSiciently demon-
ftrated by the jealoufy that had been f})ewn about it. The
dreadful conflagration by which Copenhagen v/as laid in
afhes, prevented any great progrefs from being made by the
9 Recueil Hiftor'que d'Ailes, Negotiations, Memoires, et Tfai-
tcz, par M. Rouffer, torn. v. p. 37. t Mercdie Hiltorique ct
Politique, 1730, p. 581.
prince
the Danes in the Eajl Indies. 1 73
prince royal in the life-time of his father ; but when he
was feated on the throne, and had recommended himfelf
to his fubje(5ls by abolifhing a farm of the excife which
had been fet up about four years before, and was ex-
tremely grievous to the people, he refolved to apply him-
felf to trade, and to promote to the utmoil of his power
whatever might excite the love of induflry amongfl his
people.
His whole adminiftration at home and abroad was di- ^^^-^
reeled entirely to thefe falutary views, and condu£led affair/
with fuch addrefs, that they perfe£i:ly anfwered his pur- brought
pofe. All the affairs of the Eaft India company were, by ^^''^ '^^^^
degrees, brought into proper order ; their houfe at Co- ^^ ^'
penhagen, their docks, yards, and magazines, put into
a good condition : a commerce with China direftly was
opened at a convenient feafon, and fo prudently managed,
that it has been conltantly carried on ever fince, and has
grown more and more confiderable in the fpace of about
twenty years. The miffions have alfo augmented during
the fame fpace, and the trade to Tranquebar has been
rendered both more regular and more kicrative than it was
in times pall ". It is indeed true, that the Danifh may be
ftyled inconfiderable in comparifon of the Englifh and
Dutch companies ; but it is iVdl a company, and a thriving
company too, in comparifon of wnat it was at the open-
ing of the prefent century.
" Didionairede Commerce, torn. iv. col. 1144,
CHAP.
174
Conquejls^ SettlementSy and Dlfcovertes of
CHAP. XXXV.
7he Hijlory of the French Commerce in the
Indies^
SECT.
I.
AfucdnSi
ifieiu of
the true
caufes why
the French
nation
*were fo
late in en-
couraging
tommerce.
Endeavours of the French Monarchs to infplre their Sub-
jeBs with a Pajfion for Navigation and Commerce,
Henry IF. ereEls their firft Eqft India Company^ which
funk without ever attempting any thing ; makes way
for another more aBive^ and for a little Time Juccejs-
ful; buty in the Clofe, after varying their Scheme,
fall into a declining State^ and are unable to fuftain
themfelves in that Capacity.
THE natural ambition and great vivacity of the
French nation have excited the vi'onder of fome of
the beft of their own vi'riters, that they came fo late to
underlland the benefits of commerce, and the great in-
fluence arifing from ai'naval force. But whoever confiders
this matter attentively, and confults what has been faid
upon it by one of the ableft as well as greateft men France
ever produced, wjll find it no difficult thing to difcover
the true caufes of the flownefs lliewn in applying them-
felves to points of fuch importance, and the little fuccefs
they met with in their firft undertakings of that kind ^.
In the firft place they' had not the fpur of neceffity, which
produced fuch wonderful efFe6ls upon the Venetians and
the Dutch, who were forced, for a fubfiftence, upon thofe
meafures which in a fhort time raifed them to wealth and
power. Next, there were, generally fpeaking, great im-
perfe^lions in their government, at leaft with regard to
thefe matters ; for fometimes their monarchs had too
little, and at others too much power. In their former
fituation they were able to give but fmall encouragement
to fuch projects ; and, in the latter, the want of fecurity
in the pofiefiion of property was a bar to induftry, and
extinguiflied public fpirit. Laftly, the vivacity, ficklenefs,
and vanity of their tempers rendered the French very unfit
w Teftaraent Politique du Cardinal de Richlieu, p. 83.
for
the French in the Eajl Indies. 175
for tilings that required a calm^ fleady, and tra£l:able dlf-
pofition.
It wiJi appear that thefe reafons are founded upon fadls. The Eaft
when it is known how early one of the greatelt French ydiatradg
monarchs difcerned thefe inconveniences, and with how -^'j'^ *'' .
muchearneflnefs he laboured to find proper remedies. This f^^axe*
was Francis the Firil, who, by his declarations in 1537 and
and 15431 exhorted his fubjefts to undertake long voyages,
and laid before them the advantages that would refult to
themfelves from complying with his defire. This condudi
was imitated by the laft of his immediate defcendents,
Henry the third, who in an edift, dated the 15th of De-
cember, 1578, preffed the fame point, but with very httle
efFeft ; for either want of attention in the people, or the
inability of the crown to give the neceiTary aiTillances, pre-
vented any undertakings that, in a work of this nature, are
worth mentioning *. However, in the reign of Henry the
Fourth, one Gerard le Roy, a Fleming, who had made
feveral voyages to the Indies in the Dutch fervice, came
and offered himfelf as a pilot, in cafe a French Eaft India
company could be eftabliihed. Such a company was form-
ed under the king's letters patent, dated the ift of June,
1604, by which they had an exclufive trade granted them
for fifteen years, on the fetting out of their firft fhip y.
This defign, however, came to nothing ; but the fame
perfon revived his projeft in the fucceeding reign, and, by
the alTiftance of forae friends at court, procured a new
company to be erefted by letters patent from Lewis the
Thirteenth, dated March the 2d, 161 1 -, but the fame dif-
ficulties that rendered the former fcheme abortive, that is
to fay, difputes amongft the proprietors, and want of mo-
ney, had a bad effeft upon this, fo that for four years they
undertook nothing ^. At the end of that period two mer-
chants of Roan, Muiflbn and Canis, petitioned the king,
that the privileges granted to this inadlive fociety might be
transferred to them, offering to fit out fhips that very year ;
which propofal, however, was oppofed by thofe who were
interefied in the former eitablifhment ; and therefore the
court judged a coalition neceffary, which was foon after
brought about ^.
^ Hiftoire de la Compagnie des Indcs, p. 14. y HiftoJre
des Tndes Orientales, par Guyon, torn. iii. p. 82, 83. 2 Hif-
toire de la Compagnie des Indes, p. 15. a Relations de di-
vers Vo3;age$ curieules, par Mr. Melch. Thevenot, part.ii. p. 128.
Letters
IjS Conquejlsy Settlements ^ and Difcoverks of
AneiuEaJi Liters patent were granted to the old and new proprie-
Indta cum- tors, July 2d, 1615,' which were regiflered in parliament
f any let up ^^ 2d of September following. In the fucceeding year
^tlon be^ ^ ^^^y fi"^^ o^t two good fliips, the command of the largeft
iiveen the ^^ which, with the title of general, was given to captain
old ad-ven- De Nets, who at that time ferved the king in the marine.
lurers and The lefler fliip was bellowed on captain Beaulieu, who had
mw ones, j^^ other recommendation than merit. The voyage v/as in
all refpe^ls fortunate and well conducted, though In the
end it did not turn to any great account ; for the Dutch
prefident in the Indies having publifhed an order, requir-
ing all the fubjefts of the States General, that were on
board thofe (hips,, to quit them immediately, the two
captains found it thereby out of their power to bring home
both the vefTels \ and therefore that which had been com-
manded by captain Beaulieu was fold to a little prince of
the illand of Java, and all their effects brought home on
board the largeft •, notwithftanding which unforefeen mif-
fortune, and the great expence with which this undertak-
ing was attended, they managed fo prudently as to make
it a faving voyage ^,
Vndiffnay- The company made the neceflary preparations for an-
ed by their Other expedition, and took all poffible precautions for ren-
*wantof dering it fuccefsful, giving the chief command to commo-
•^Jf^f^^J dore Beaulieu, who failed 06i:ober 2, 1619, from Hon-
the com- A^ur road, with three (hips ; the Montmorency, of four
fany re* hundred and fifty tons, carrying one hundred and (ixty-two
folveto men, twenty-two guns, and twenty patereroes; the Hope,
fend aJ6' gf four hundred tons, one hundred and feventeen men,
4:onatime, t^^nty-fix guns, and twenty patereroes ; and the Her-
mitage, an advice-boat, of feventy-five tons, thirty men,
eight guns, and eight patereroes ; all viftualled for two
years and a half. We have the hiflory of this voyage
written at large from that gentleman's papers, and a very
curious and inftruftive voyage it is ; and from thence it
appears, that as thefe were ftout fhips, and well equipped,
fo the whole voyage was conduced with the utmoft Ikill
and addrefs, and a good lading procured for both the large
fhips at the port of Achen in the illand of Sumatra ^» Yet
in fome refpecls it was difaftrous, the Hope being loll
upon the coaft of Java, or, as the commodore had very
ftrong reafons to believe, was funk by the Dutch, and all
the men on board, and a cargo to the value of between
feventy and eighty thoufand pounds fterhng j but, how-
b Difcours fur le Voyage de General Beaulieu. ^ Voyages
de General Beaulieu, p. 115.
ever,
the French in the E^fl Indies. 177
rver, the commodore returned fafe in liis own fhip to Ha-
vre de Grace, on the ift of December, i<>20~^-(0).
The confideration of this misfortune, and the fear o{ But after'
meeting with the Hke in fucceeding expeditions, induced 'wards,
the company to confine her views to the ifland of Mada- ^^j^^V^Z
gafcar, in hopes that, if (he could raife a powerful colony thoughts t$
there, it might be the means to render fucceeding attempts t/ie Yettle-
in the indies more fecure ; but in this particular alfo, ^'^^^ of
through a feries of ill fortune and ill management, with ^^^^g^f-
which there is not either room or reafon to trouble the ^pj^the
reader here, they found the hopes they had formed dif- trade to ihh
appointed, and that all their returns from thence fell very Indiet,
fhort of the expence that was abfolutely necefiary for the
maintenance of their fettlement ; fo that, inftead of con-
tributing to the purfuit of their original defign, it ferved
only to exhauil their furtds, to difcourage thofe who were-
in their fervice ; and to difcredit their undertaking to fucli
a degree, that for many years together there was no more
done towards the eftablifhment of an Eaft India commercey
than if no fuch company had ever been erected ^i
d Relations de divers Voyages curieufes, par Mr. Melch. The-
venot, parr. W. p. 123. e Hiftoire des IndesOrientales, par
Guyon, ton), iii. p. 85, 86.
(O) It was in reality the civil gives us light ihto many cir-'
war which broke out in France cumllances ^i) that other wri-'
that interrupted the progrefs of ters endeavour to hide, particu"-*
this company, dilabled the larly the bad behaviour of th6 '
members From contributing the French towards the natives,
fums necefiary to its fupport, which, without doubr^ gave ah
and diverted the attention of the unfavourable impreffion of the
government, without which it whole nation, and their early
could not fubfift. Upon this, bent to privateering in the Red
feme traders in Normandy en- Sea ; both which errors in ma-
deavoured to avail tbemfelves nagement became more and
of the company's charter, from more evident in the condu'^ of
vvhencefprimg the original de- their faccellbrs, liotwithiland-
jfigh of making a fettlement in ing that they fet out upon a
the ifland of Madagcifcar, as we better plan, and for fome time
learn from the teilimony of a at le^-ll: were better fupported,
perfon who was deeply concern- which rendered them fo much
ed therein, and whofe voyage the more inexcufeable.
(i) Relation du Voyage de Frangois Couche, de Rouen, en Tlfle
de Madagafcar, &c.
Mod. Vol. IX, N SECT,
Ijr^ Ccnquefls^ Settlements y and D'lfcoveries of
SECT. II.
Cardinal Richlieu turns his Thoughts upon this SuhjeEi ;
, refohes to fet up a nezv Company, with more ex ten-
jive Power Sy better Funds^ and under his immediate
ProteEfion ; all which Advantages, however^ could
not fecure it Succefs, M. Colbert enters into the
like Scheme, purfues it with equal Ability and Appli*
cation ; notwithjianding all which^ the Affairs oj the
Royal Eaji India Company gradually decline.
Cardinal "DUT that wife and great minifler, whofe enterprifing
KicMi^s ±J g^jiiug f^[({ fo nxuch. good as well as hurt to France, the
eJhUflidin^ famous cardinal De Richlieu, refolved to revive this corn-
et ««?w Eafi merce, and undertook it, as he did all things, with great
Ittdia. ««- fpirit. The royal privileges granted to this new company
patty, were dated the 24th of June, 1642, and contained all that
could be thought neceilary for promoting a fociety under
the peculiar protection of io great a miniiter ^ Yet it fell
out unluckily, at leafl for this eftablifliment ; he did not
long furvive this grant ; a circumftance which was a great
prejudice to the company's affairs. However, Lewis the
Fourteenth, or rather the regency ailing in his minority,
confirmed thofe privileges by an edict dated the 20th
of September, 1643. All thefe it quietly enjoyed for
twenty years, during which, this third company lent every
year a veffel to Madagascar ; but the greateft part of them
were either caft away in their palTage, or loft the befl: part
of their crews by the fcurvy ; fo that though the name of
an Eaft India company was kept up in France, yet they
were poflefled of no fuch trade ; but contented themfelves
ftill with fruitlefs attempts to fettle a colony at Madagaf-
car ; a defign, which, after all, they could never bring ro
bear s. The time of their privilege being expired, the
duke De la Meilleray attempted an Indian trade upon his
own bottom ; which ended in fending a fhip or two to Ma-
dagafcar, where he got into the polleffion of their fettle-
ments,~and found them not worth keeping-, though it is
faid that he made this attempt at a pretty eafy rate, be-
caufe, being mafler of the ordnance, he made free with
f Hiftoire de la Compaornie des Iiides, p 16, 17. * Hif-
toire des Indes Orientales, torn. iii. p. 86^ 87.
" ■ the
the French in the Eajl Ina'ies, IJ^
tlie king's (lores. On his death his fon fold his interefl iii
this ifland for about twenty thoufand livres, which proved
a great deal more than it was worth ^.
This event fliews how little the French government '^'/'is col's-
agrees with commerce, and how difficult her ablefl minif- P^"^ ^^^'
ters find it to eftabhfli trade by dint of power. Yet it J^f/^/^|^„
mufl be allowed cardinal Richlieu took all imaginable ^jjjfg^ ihg
pains in this refpeft. He fent for perfons, who were bell: trade to the
verfed in this trade, from Holland ; drew abundance of -^^^^^^-f w«J
rich merchants from different parts of Europe into France; -^^^ ^'T^
formed the plan for the eflablifhment of the new^ com- f^^^i^
pany from his own ideas, and engaged the principal per- France*
ions for quality and fortune in France to embark 'in the
undertaking. This ilep, which he conceived would moil:
promote it, proved the ruin of the whole defign *, for there
being always fome great nobleman at the head of this bufi-
nefs, fucli as endeavoured to obtain employment *in the
company's fervice were forced to become his creatures ; by
which happy contrivance there were hardly any employed
who had either merit or capacity ; (xi that fuch as were the
beft judges of the means of carrying on this commerce with
fuccefs treated the Ealt India company as a phantom, and
never concerned themfelves therewith. On the other hand,
the Englifli and Dutch Eall India companies, being folely
guided by experience, treated the affair of a French Eaft
India company with contempt ; while the reft of the ftates
of Europe, feeing France, with all her power, could make
nothing of thofe repeated attempts, took it for granted
that the India trade was defigned by nature for the mari-
time powers, and never troubled their heads about it ; a
thing hardly credible, if we had not the authority of the
beft hiftorians to fupport it '.
But the fcene foon changed when Lewis the Fourteenth The famous
came to manage his own affairs, and had taken into his Mr. CoI- ,
fervice fuch minifters as were equally capable of forefeeing *'.^' ^^'
and overcoming all the difficulties that could poftibly be ""r^'-^y^'^
met with in the execution of the great defigns they formed ^'^
for the glory t)f their nation. The famous M. Colbert,
fo much diftinguiftied by that great prince whofe activity
and prudence procured his maflcr many of thofe fucceffes
which rendered him the moft powerful monarch in Eu-
rope, was the pcrfon who conceived the defign of reviving
the French Eaft India company, notwitliftanding all the
^ Hiftoire de 1j Compagnie des Jndes, p, 19, 20, * Tef-
lament Politique deM. Colbert, p. 18a.
N % misfortunes
i8o
The princ'u
pal points
therein.
ConqueftSy Settlements, and Difcoverles of
misfortunes which had over and over difappointed the ikill
and care of his predeceflbrs ^, But before he made his
intentions known to the public, he took care to be well in-
formed in the affair he was to undertake, by contracting
acquaintance with fuch merchants and feamen as were
held to underftand this fubjecl beft. It was from them
he learnt the three principal difficulties in the way of that
flru6lure which he laboured to raife '. The firfl was, the
finding a fufficient fund for eftablifliing fuch a company,
as to which nothing had been done that could afford any
probable hopes of fucccfs. The French merchants, fond
of new projects, were ready enough in fubfcriptions, but
flow in complying with the terms of their contrails af^r
they had fubfcribed. The fecond was, a peremptory ex-
clufion of foreigners, notwithflanding it was evident that
the neceffary funds for carrying on fo extenfivc a trade
were not eafily to be found in France. The third and
greateft difficulty was, the granting and eftablifhing fuch a
degree of liberty and independence to this company as-
might fatisfy ftrangers and natives as to the fe^urity of
their property, and put the entire management of their
affairs into the hands of fuch only as v/ere efteemed fit to
be trufted by themfelves. All thefe things he weighed in
his own mind; and, when he had fufficiently ripened his
projeCl:, he communicated his plan to M. Charpentier, of
the French Academy, efteemed one of the beft pens in
France. As this paper was efteemed a mafter-plece in its
kind, explains the fubje£l clearly, and contains abundance
of curious circumilances, it may not be amifs to give the
reader an extraft of its contents ; the rather, as we fhall
be obliged to refer to it often "\
It began with this remark, that, as former fchemes had
failed for want of proper funds, there was no danger any
thing of this nature (liould happen here, fince, befides the
conftant protedllon which the government determined to
give, the king hlmfelf, and' the greateft and the wealthieft
perfons in the nation, were refolved to furnlfli fuch large
fums at the beginning as might put it on a \tve\ at leaft
with the Dutch Eaft India company at the time of its firft
eftablifhment. In regard to any obje61:ion that might be
raifed from the difappointments which had overturned
three companies already, it was obferved, that few or no
k Eflai fur la Marine et fur le Commerce, p. ii^j. i Eloge
de M. Colbert, par M. Perrault. m Dilcours d*un fide^le
Sujetd.u Roi touchantrEtablifleraent d'une Compagnie Frangoife
pour le Commerce des Indes Orientales, Paris, 1664., ^to.
under-
the French in the Eqjl Indies. 1 8 1
undertakings of this fort were attended with Immediate
fuccefs : that the Spaniards fuffered greatly in their firft
expeditions to America, which did not hinder them from
perfevering in thofe defigns, that had acquired them the
empire of the new world i that the Englifh colony in Vir-
ginia had failed four or five times, and yet was brought
to perfe£tion at laft : and that even the Dutch Eaft India
company, which fo much excelled all others, was far
enough from being fortunate in its beginning.
Thefe principles bid dov/n, it v/as nextfhewn, that the
ifland of Madagafcar, a confiderable part of which was
then in the poffeffion of the French, was a country capable
of being improved to fuch a degree, as to become of more
confequence, and of greater advantage, than any of the
fettlements poiTefled by the Dutch in the Eaft Indies. In
fupport of this aflertion, it was faid, that nobody would
deny this fettlement was incomparably more commodious
and more fecure than that of Batavia, which the Dutch
had neverthelefs made the capital refidencc of their com-
pany in the Indies : for, with refpecl to the place, the
country of Madagafcar was extremely agreeable; the cHr-
mate equally temperate and pleafant, and the foil affording
all the neceffaries of life in the greateft abundance ; where-r
3S the territory about Batavia was fo far from being fruit-
ful, that the company were obliged to procure from
diftant places rice, frefh meat, and other provifions,
for twenty-five or thirty thoufand people, a talk which
could not but be attended with great difficulties, as well as
a va(l expence.
In refpeft to fecurity, it v/as well enough known that
only a fmail part of the ifland of Java was in the power of
the Dutch ; and that the reft of the country, which was
large and populous, was inhabited by a variety of nations,
?i;:^reeing however in the fiercenefs and brutality of their
natures, and in a bigotted zeal for the Mohammedin re-
ligion, which made thern hate and defpife all Chriftians
to the laft degree : that the territories of the Dutch bor*
dered on one ^\A^ on thofe of the king of Materan, who
had more than once invaded them at the head of an army
of upM^ards of an hundred thoufand men ; that, on the
other, the city of Batavia itfelf was but tvv^elve leagues
diftant from the dominions of the king of Bantam, who
had likewife (hewn himfelf their powerful and inveterate
enemy j whereas the inhabitants of Madagafcar were of
a rnild dif}pi1t*on, and fo inclined to receive the Gofpel,
that a fett'ement cDafifting of one hundred men would be
N 3 ia
1 52 Conquejls^ Settlements^ and Difcoveries of
in greater fecurity there, than one of a thoufand and upwards
in the ifland of Java : that, befides all this, by fixing their
principal poft in Madagafcar, the French company would
be better feated for trade than the Dutch in Batavia, be-
caufe it was equally convenient for carrying on the com-
merce of the Red Sea, or of the gulf of Bengal, and lay
at the fame time very properly for the difpatch of fhips to
China and Japan, affording a convenient place for refitting
and refrefliing in their return. -
In reference to the execution of a proje£l which thefe
arguments were fuppofed to demoniirate probable and
% feafible, it was faid in this ijiemorial, that a fund of (ix
millions, or three hundred thoufand pounds of our money,
would be necefiary to the equipping twelve or fourteen
large fhips, from eight hundred to fourteen hundred tons,
in order to embark fuch a number of perfons for this
ill and of Madagafcar as might effeftually and at once
eftablifii a confiderable colony there •, that there was no
reafon to doubt that his majeily would advance a tenth
part of this fum *, that the nobility, and other perfons of
fortune, would advance alfo the fums requifite to fet this
defign on foot ; and that as the king was willing to take
a tenth fhare in the fetting out, they had reafon to expe6l
he would concern himfelf largely in future expeditions :
that, as a further encouragement, he was willing to grant
the company an exemption from half their duties, both
inward and outward, on all goods exported to or imported
from the Indies : and, over and above all this, his majeily
was content to take upon himfelf all the lofs that might
arife for the firft eight or ten years ; a circumllance which
was fuiucient to fliew how much and how fincerely he had
this great defign at heart, and hovv^ willing he v^as to con-
tribute to its fuccefs : that as to private perfons, they
fhould be at liberty to fubfcribe in what proportions they
pleafed, till the fund was full ; after which, no farther
fubfcriptions fhould be received on any terms.
That the king would not only permit foreigners to take
what fhare they pleafed in thefe fubfcriptions, but, to en-
courage them thereto, would likewife confent that fuch as
fubfcribed ten thoufand livres (this was afterwards changed
to twenty thoufand), or upwards, fhould thereby acquire
the right of naturalization, without any farther ceremony,
by which their relations, though fbrangers, fhould be capa-
ble of inheriting their effecfls in France ; and farther, that,
"in cafe of a rupture with the ilate to which fuch ftrangers
v/ere fubjeds, their effects fhould never be liable to cor,-
fifcaiion
the French in the Eaft Indies. 183
(ifcation on any pretence -whatever : that the affairs of the
company fliould be managed by their own direftors, chofen
from amongft themfelves, in whofe hands the funds of
the company fhould conftantly remain ; and that fo-
reigners fhould be capable of being elected directors,
provided they were interefted in a reafonable degree in
the ftock of their company, and refided in France; that,
in point of law-fuits, the company iliould be made as
eafy as poflible ; and, after being heard in the firft infe-
rior court, near the place where the caufe of a£lion
arofe, they iliould be at liberty to appeal diredly to the
parliament.
This memoir was exceedingly well calculated to anfwer CoodefeSs
its end, by reviving the hopes of the nation, and by throw- *^ ^htimt-
ing the weight of former difappointments upon want of „j^hkhpra-
money and want of conduct ; it w^as alfo well contrived duced a
to magnify the importance of Madagafcar, and that with- ne-w Eajf
out doubt a little at the expence of truth, that people might ^^^^^ ^°'"z^
not be difcouraged at the recurring to a meafure that had ^^^-^'/g^'
fooften failed, and that they might pleafe themfelves with poivers,
the hopes of feeing the whole defign quickly brought to
bear ; fince a place of fuch high importance,' though
hitherto fo indifferently managed, was (Ull in the pofleffion,
or at leait in the power of France. Upon this bafis,
therefore, was raifed the laft Eaft India company, which
in fome degree ftill fubfifts, and which was ere<£l:ed by a
very ample and well-drawn edi£l:,''in which every thing
was put into the belt form, and fet forth with all the ad-
vantage imaginable, dated in the month of Auguft, 1664,
and loon after regillered in parliament, containing forty-
Ctven articles ; and fixing the actions, as they were then
firil called, at one thoufand livres ; referving a power to
the company of making farther demands upon her proprie-
tors, not exceeding half that fum upon each fhare ". All
the advantages formerly promifed to natives, or to ftrangers,
were aftually given, and every other method employed
that might .maintain a good opinion of the government's
favourable intention for this new company, the fuccefs of
which, after fo many fruitlefs attempts, it was believed,
would do honour to that reign, and to the adminiftration
of M. Colbert, who, as he fhewed great fpirit in forming
the plan °, fo his conftancy was vifible in fupporting this
" Hifloire de la Compagnie des hide?, p. jyy— 190. <> La
Vie de jean Baptift Colbert, p. 36, 37.
N 4 commerce
WhicK be-
ing count i'
fianced and
encouraged
by the court ^
is quickly
enabled to
ci6i 'vigo-
roujl^.
^helr CO'
lony fent
to Mada-
gafcar call
it IJle ^
Dauphine^
and endea-
'vour feve-^
ralfettle-
menu.
Conqueftsy Settlements^ and Difcoverles of
commerce with great firmnefs, and perfevering in his care
for it even to the laft.
Vv^hatever is heartily efpoufed by a prime minifter will,
in all countries, but more efpecially in thofe under an
arbitrary government, find a multitude of advocates, and
rife into general efteem, efpecially if it receives concur^
rence as well as countenance from the government, which
in this inflance w^as a61:ually the cafe ; for the king, as he
had promifed, paid three hundred thoufand livres in ready
money. Moft of the great men of the court, either from
motives of prudence or public fpirit, interefted themfelves
in like manner, and their example was followed by all
who could afford it; fo that in a fhort time the company
was in a condition to undertake any expedition that fliould
be judged moft conducive to the ends for which it was in-
llituted. Upon mature deliberation, therefore, an effec-
tual fettlement was refolved upon in the illand of Mada-
gafcar i in order to which, a regulation was drawn up for
the intended colony, fo well contrived in all refpe6ls as to
attracSlj and that very juftly too, the public approbation p.
Numbers of people offered themfelves to go over and fettle
there; and accordingly, on the 7th of March 166^,
four large fliips, equipped as well for war as for trade,
carrying in all five hundred and twenty men, failed from
Breft, and arrived fafely at Madagafcaron the icth of July
following. Such was the firft attempt of this new com-
pany, which being executed in all refpec^s with fpirit,
diligence, and fuccefs, raifed a general expectation that
^11 obftacles would be at length overcome, and that the
great and magnificent promifes made in favour of this
eilablifhment would be effectually performed.
The firft ftep this new colony took after they arrived,
and were fettled on the place, was, to change its name
in honour of the heir apparent of the crown of France,
then about four years old ; fo that inftead of Madagafcar,
it was for the future to be ftyled Ifle Dauphlne. Next
year a new embarkation was made ; and, in order to
excite ftill greater numbers to go thither, a defcription of
the illand was given, together with ar; account of the new
colony, reprefenting the former as a perfeft paradife, and
the latter as the happieft and beft fatisfied people in the
univerfe. By affixing thefe papers in pubHc places, and
p Relation de I'Etablifiement de la Compagnie Frangoife pour
Commerce des Indes Oiientaies, Paris, 1665, 410.
circulating
the French in the EaJI Indies, 185
circulating them through the kingdom, the ends of the
company were anfwered ; and a great reinforcement of
new adventurers fent over to the Ifle Dauphine, where a
regular government was a£lually fettled, together with the
company's firll and chief refidence, agreeable to M. Col-
bert's original memorial, and in imitation of the Dutch
eftabHfliment at Batavia 'i. In the mean time that great ^
minifter employed- his thoughts for compaffing more cffen-
tial advantages, and fuch as might render the commerce
of the new company more agreeable to its tide ; being
fufficiently fenfible, that, whatever might be faid for the
prefent, it would not be long before the French would
exclaim that their new India company had as yet brought
nothing from the Indies. To fecond his views in this
refpect, many proje6ts were offered, and not a few of
thofe bold adventurers prefented themfelves with magnifi-
cent promifes ; but though the former were received, and
the latter encouraged, yet the cautious minifter, who knew
of how great confequence it was to make choice of a right
plan, and of proper perfons to carry it into execution, was
farTrom being hafty in his deciiion. Indeed every day's
experience taught him, that, whatever it might be in
other countries, there could not be a more difficult tafk in
France than to eftablifli an Eaft India company ; and this,
notwithftanding he had the authority of the crown, and
the good opinion of the better part of the nation, to fup-
port him in his defign, without either rivals or enemies to
give him any oppofiiion ^,
After mature refleftion, however, and the neceflary Bui the
confultations with thofe who were placed at the head of ^^^P^HV
the company's concerns, it was refolved, that, in ^^^^^itet^tfulr
year 1667, fome fhips fhould proceed from Madagafcar pian^ and
to the Indies j and that the care of fixing an introdu£bory refol've to
eftabUfhment there, fliould be left to the joint endeavours enter on the
of two very intelligent perfons, who had been lately taken ^"Jy^'"'^^
into their fervice. The firft of thefe was Mr. Garon, who ^;;^^,
has been mentioned already more than once ; he was a
native of France, but had been for many years in the
Dutch fervice, and had been raifed in that fervice to the
rank of prefident of the faftory of Japan, where, for rea-
fons which we have affigned in their proper place, he fuf-
fered feverely. Not thinking himfelf fufficiently confider-
ed for thofe fufferings, he quitted the Dutch fervice, and
<l Hiflo've ds la Comnagnie deslndes, p. 38, 39. *■ Hiftoire
des ludes Onentales, to:n. iii. j>. 136.
returned
1 86 Con que ft s^ Settlements^ and D/fcovertes of
returned to France, at a jun6!:ure when a man of his abi-
lities was much wanted, and therefore he was carefTed and
employed ^ The other was Mr. Marcara Avanchinz, a
native of Ifpahan In Perfia, nearly allied to feveral perfons
of great rank in that empire, as alfo to feme who enjoyed
governments, and other great employments in the Indies,
fo that the company had good reafon to expe<Sl great things
from their abilities and experienced
Upan They proceeded accordingly from Ille Dauphine, as
njti/iich the French call it, and arrived the day before Chriilmas,
tktir agents 1667, at Cochin, where they were well received, and very
froceed to refpe6lfully treated by the Dutch governor ; and from
ion at ' ^"^^^-"^^ ^^^^y continued their voyage to Swally, which is
Surat. t^^ V^^^ ^^ ^^^ famous city of Surat, in which they were
to ere£l their firft faftory ". In 1669 it was judged for
the company's fervice that M. Marcara fhould repair to
the. court of Golconda, vi/ftere he had feveral particular
friends, as well as near relations, in order to obtain,
through their intereil with the king, the privilege of
trading through his dominions, purchafing whatever kind
of merchandize they wanted, and employing manufac-
^ turers for the ftrvice of the company, as alfo for obtain-
ing a licence to eftablifh a factory at Mafulipatan. This
commiffion, taken all together, was extremely difficult,
more efpecially as it was known that the Englifli and
Dutch had not been able to procure fmaller favour than
thefe, though they had great intereft in that court, and
had been at vaft expence to preferve it ; nor was it any
fecret that their agents would give this Perfian negotiator
all the trouble and oppofition in their power; and at the
fame time he was but indifferently fupplled with money,
which is as necelfary, in fuch cafes, in the Indies, as in
Europe. However, the fieur Marcara undertook very
chearfully, and executed very happily, this important ne-
gotiation ^. It is true, he was a long time about it *, and i
rejected one firman, or letters patent, from his majeity
of Golconda, In which there were fo many qualifications
and reftri6lions, that he judged they M'ould have been of
little ufe •, but in the end he obtained a firman, dated De-
cember the 5th, i6()9, by which the French company
were permitted to negotiate through all the king's domi-
nions for ever, without paying any duties either inwards
I
s Hiftoire de la Compagnie des Indes, p. 40, 4.1, t Hiftoire
des Indes Oiien tales, p. 136, 137. u Mtinoires do Sieur Mar-
cara, " Hiftoire de la Compagnie des Indes, p. 43, 4.4, 45.
' or
the French In the Eajl Indies* 187
or outwards, either for the khig*s fhips, or for thofe of
the company ; a privilege which the Dutch could never
obtain, and which the Engliih acquired in 1655 at a
vaft expence, after having rendered, for twenty years
top-ether, very fignal fervices by fea to the monarchs of
Golconda. M. Marcara went to Mafulipatan, where he
caufed his letters patent to be regiPiered, fettled a fac-
tory ; and, in quality of chief, carried on the .commerce
of the company with the fame zeal and diligence that he
had fr.ewed in his negotiation y.
One would have imagined, that, after fuch teftimonles ^-'^ i^e
of his fidelity, and thofe too attended with fuch lurprifing ^^f^^ ^'^*'^''
fuccefs, the credit of this Perfian ihould have been fo ani^cenl
thoroughly eftabhlhed, as well with the French court as dency,
with the company, as to be out of any danger, of fuffering lAihich is
from frnifter infuiuations *, and yet it fell out quite other- ^'".^^'^"^^
wife, for his competitor, Mr. Caron, having acquired by ^^ ^ii^if"^
his intrigues a fuperior intereft, obtained an order from
Mr. Colbert,' in 1671, by which himfeif was raifed to
the fecond pofl in the Eail India company's fervice, and
all the friends of Mr. Marcara were removed from their
employments, and fubje6lcd to profecutions, though there
v/as not a word faid of him in that order, or the fmallefl
mifmanagement laid to his charge^: but things wore an-
other face in France, where his characler was injured by
a multitude of afperfions ; of which having notice from
his friends, he tranfmitted fuch full j unifications that
M. Colbert, having thoroughly examined into every thing,
and made an impartial report to the king, his conduct was
entirely approved, and his innocence acknowleged by a
folemn arret : but it is fit that we fhould likewife fhew
what the fervices were which his rival alfo rendered to the
company, and by what proje^s he fo clTcclually recom-
mended himfeif to fo intelligent and clear-fighted a mi-
ll iter, as to be able, though but for a fhort time, to abufe
his coniidencc to fuch a degree, as to bring a perfon into
"difgrace wl;o had deferved fo well, and whofe intereft,
as well as his experieiK-e, was of fo great fervice to the
company's ajrairSj without his giving fo much as the
flighteft occafion for their difpleafure, or even for their
fufpicion "*. ^ -
y Memoire? du Sieur Marc?.ra. ^ Hiftoire dts Indes
Orentaes, torn. iii. p. 1.^6. » Hiilore de la Compagnie
d.i. Incici, p. 63, (:4.
It
lS8 ConqUiifts, Settlement s^ and Difcoveries of
Ws projcSi ^^ ^s allowed that the fieur de Caron fettled the fadory at
»j attack- Suratj of which the French are Hill in pofleflion, as alfo
ing Ceylon that of Bantam, upon the ifland of Java, which they
tornes to jjg]j-j ^-j}^ ^g y.Q j,^^g fhewn elfewhere, the Dutch became
^nd"w the ^"^^ft^rs of that kingdom, or rather of the king, and, un-
ijue^ der colour of his authority, excluded them and the Eng-
j,ro<ves bis lifh ; an event which, however, happened fome years after
rum. tiiig gentleman's death ^. The great experience he had
gained during the time he ferved the Dutch, made thefe
things eafy and familiar to him ; but what, without doubt
made him mofl acceptable to M. Colbert, was, the fcheme
of furprifingfome of the fortrefles in Ceylon, and bringing
^ of the French at once into a Ihare of the fpice trade. In this
he is on all hands allowed to have had a very large con-r
cern, if he was not the original inventor cf it *, and it
mufl be likewife confeffed, that the plan was very well
laid. The miniiler was very defirous of feeing the EaO:
India commerce firmly eftablifhed, a regular correfpon-
"dence fixed, and rich cargoes brought every year into
France ; for he began to be convinced, that, if this was
not fpeedily done, the laft India company would be little
better than the firft ; and that as the bufy roving fpirits
of the French would not allow thenx to live long enough
in a place to render it fertile, if it was not fo naturally,
or to accumulate riches if they were not at hand, and, in
a manner, to be had for taking up ; fo, if this projeiSl
had fucceeded, which was fupported by a competent
force, and they could once have fixed themfelves in any
part of the ifland of Ceylon, for which it is faid they had
obtained the confent of the emperor of that iiland, it
would have anfwered all thefe purpofes, and would have
given them a foftrefs, a port, and a (hare in the cinnamon
trade, at a fingle ftroke "^ : but, as we have informed the
teader, in treating of the affairs of the Dutch, how this
project mifcarrled, and how the fieur Caron loft his life in
Sight of the port of Liibon, on his return, it is not ne-
celfary that we fhould dwell longer upon it here, though
it is certainly a piece of hiftcry that very nearly concerns
this fubje£t. By his death it- came to be known, that
though he had been very zealous and diligent, yet he
had not been over-faithful in the management of the
company's affairs, but had amaffed much wealth for
himfelf,' of which the greateft part periflied with him,
t Tavernier, Chardirt, Le Brun, &c. « Journal de Voyages
dcjGrandcs Indes, Paris, 1638, izmo«
the French in the Eujl Indies, 1B9
tvhile he was endeavouring to depoFit it in a place of
fafety **.
Before this unhappy event fell out, the new Eaft India Arefolutkn
company began to be weary of her eftablifhment at Mada- '^^^^ ^^
gafcar, chiefly, as they acknowleged, through the ill ma- pany^^lult
nagement of thofe who were placed in authority, and thelfle
principally intrufted with her affairs ; but, in reality, be- Daupkine,
caufe the country was fruitful, pleafant, and very fit for ^"'^ /^-a^/-
hunting, and other f]iorts, to which thofe they fent over ^^1^^^^^ .^
entirely devoted themfelves, and thought very little of the ^urat.
conditions upon which they were carried thither. The
necefTaries, the conveniencies, and the pleafures of life,
were eafily to be had ; and, in acquiring thefe, the people
thought they purfued their own interefl, and would not
forego them, or fatigue themfelves, in refpefl to the in-
terefls of the company j who therefore defired that the
king would refume his gift, which his mofl Chriftian
Majefly accordin^'y didby his arret dated November 12th,
1670 ''j and thus, the ille Dauphine being abandoned,
the company's chief refidence was fixed at Surat, where
they had new powers and frefli favours granted them by
the crown \ for all which they were indebted to Mr. Col-
bert, as well as for the exemption from duties of all
kinds, and indeed for every thing elfe that they co^ld aik
with any tolerable pretence, in order to encourage and
render fiourilhing, if it had been poflible, a commerce
upon which he had fet his heart ^ ; and that for no other
reafon, but becaufe he thought it honourable and profit-
able for the kingdom, the welfare of which was the ob-
jeft of his miniilry.
Notwithftanding thefe repeated favours, it became every Yet, ivhk*
day more and more apparent that their affairs v/ere in a <*''' the in-
bad condition, and that without fome fpeedy remedy they '^'/'^^^•*"
would fall into abfolute confufion. A general court was JJ^^-^y^^
called of all the proprietors, at Paris, before whom a true their af-
ftate of their concerns was laid ; of which, through the fairs ptujf
int^rpofition of Mr. Colbert, a report was made to his. ^^^^^'*^^^''
majefly, who thereupon iffued his declaration, dated Sep- ?^^^^ ^^^^^''
tember 13th, 1675, importing that a dividend of ten per
cent, fhould be paid to fuch of the proprietors s ^s had
completed all their payments 5 that, v/ith refpeft to thofe
** Bafnage Aunalestles Provinces-nnies, torn. ii. p. 4157, e Hif-
toire de la Compr^gnie des Indes, p. 74, 75. Hiftoiredes Indeff
Orientales, rom. iii. p. 158. f La Vie de Jean Baptift Colbert.
Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, torn. iii. p. 150^ g Hiftoire de la
Compagiiie des Indes, torn, iii, p. 71, & feq.
who
190
Are obliged
to demand
the king's
fer7mffion
to grant li-
cences on
certain
lermSi to
pri'vate
traders*
Conquefts, Settlements^ and Difcoverles of
who had not completed them, they fhould have time to
the ifl of July 1676, and, upon completing their pay-
ments, fhould have a difcount of ten per cent, that the
Capitals of fuch as neglected to complete their fubfcrip-
tioiis fliould be forfeited for the ufe of the company : and,
laftly, that whereas, through the lofles and difcourage-
ments to which all new undertaking are inevitably liable,
the Eaft India company had incurred a debt of no lefs
than four millions, his majefly, according to the promife
made in the edift of his creation, difcharged that debt,
and alfo forgave freely and for ever the faid fum of four-
millions advanced for their fervice. This extraordinary
generofity of the crown was followed next year by a new
favour, which was, the freeing all m.erchandize bought
at their fales from all duties inward and outward, except
thofe tranfported to Lyons, and even thofe were to pay
only a fourth of the ufual duties upon entry, and thofe of
the cuftom-houfe belonging to that city. Such was the
fituation, and fuch the repeated benefits beftowed upon
this company during the ten firil: years of its fubfftlence j
by which we fee, that nothing but the care of the go-
vernment prevented it from fmking into ruin ^,
At the clofe of the year 168 J, feme private perfons hav-
ing infinuated that they v/ere willing to embark their .for-
tunes in a trade to the Indies, provided they might obtain
licences ; and the company likewife having fignified to the
king, that it might prove beneficial to them, if they had a
power to grant fuch indulgencies ; this favour likewife
was added to the reft, and private traders were permitted
to engage in this c5mmerce upon the following condi-
tions : that they fhould tranfport themfelves and their
efFe£ls on board the company's fiiips,both outwards and in-
wards : that they fliould pay their freight and palTage be-
fore their departure : that the goods they brought home,
precious ftones only excepted, fiiould be expofed in the
company's fales, and their produce fairly accounted for :
that thefe licences fliould be in force only for five years ;
and that, if they fliould be found prejudicial to the af-
fairs of the company, the dire6lors might abridge or can-
cel them at their pleafure ^ : but notwithftanding thefe
advantages, and though they fcarce aiked any thing of
M. Colbert but what was granted, yet their affairs con-
tinued declining 3 and, as he died in 1683, the fpirit of
1» Hifloire des Indes Orientales, torn. iii. p. J50, 151,
158, 159, 160,
i Ibid.
this
' the French in the Eaji Indies* 19 1
tKis commerce might be faid to expire with its patron K
The body indeed of the company was kept up, not much
perhaps to its advantage , they had not only a court of
dlredors at Paris^ but, in imitation of the -Dutch Eafl:
India company, chambers of diredion at feveral ports,
a council in the Indies, and, in {hort, the appearance and
trappings of a great fociety, when at the bottom they were
diftrelTed and poor, fo that upon ftating a general ac-
count in 16S4, it clearly appeared, that, inllead of gain-
ing one penny by their commerce, they had actually run
out one half of their capital. This deficiency was attri-
buted to feveral caufes, but principally to three : the war
with the Dutch, which laded from 1672 to 1678; the
frauds of the perfons employed in their fervice in Mada-
gafcar and the Indies, who, though they were fent by the
company, acbed ds if they had no other bulinefs there
than to mind their own Interejfls, which they did ' at the
cxpence of their mailers ; fo that fgme private fortunes
were made, while the concerns of the public were run-
ning to ruin ; and, laftly, to the fupinencfs, timidity, or
inability/ of their fubfcribers, who had not paid in their
proportions of Ilock '.
S E C T. IIL
Various Eforts made to reftore their Credit, and to keep
tkeir Trade alive, in which they are fometimes ajjifted
by, and fometimes meet with Difcouragements from
the Minijiry, which at length induces them to let out
their Privileges to private Perfons : the Ccnfequences
of thefe Licences, which, amongft others, produce a
China Company, and, upon the whole, turn to very
little Account, in whatever Light they are confidered,
'T^O remedy thefe diforders, and to retrieve, if poffible. To retrieve
the trade of the company, it was refolved to change fume Je^^re^
their fyftem of government, to fupprefs all the little cham- ^f credit, u
bers of directors, and to put the v/hole management of the ^Ir.^^ '^*
> • t 1 1 r 1 ^v r> qwjite to
company s concerns into the hands or twelve directors re- ^nake a
fiding in Paris, who were each of them to pay in thirty change in
thoufand livres upon the forfeited a£lions, and to be al- ^^^ <^om^
lowed reafonable falaries. It was alfo refolved, that all ^^/^y ^^^
wlio had not made then* payments fhould forfeit their fhares ilf^„^ '^^^
k La Vie de Jean Baptlft Colbert, p. 30J. 1 HjHoire de la
Compagniedes Indes, p. 73, 74.,
•to
192
New di-
reBors
added to itj'
creafe the
much ex-
haufted
fund of the
company.
When their
commerce
began to
take a turn
in their fa-
«vour, the
gonjern-
ment alters
its conduii.
ConqueftSy Settlements, and Dlfcoveries of
to the company ; with a provifo, that if, in two years,
they made good their payments, they fhould enter into
their former rights, and have all their a61:ions reftored.
This regulation was confirmed by a royal edi£l, dated in
February, 1685, by which the king left the company free
liberty either to refume the fovereignty of^the Ille Dau-
phine, which they had furrendered in 1670, or to leave it
as it then was in the king's hands. As the company were
left at liberty to do as they thought fit in this affair, they,
after mature deliberation, thought proper to adhere to their
laft refolution, and to quit this illand entirely to the crown ;
which ad: of their's was confirmed by the king's arret,
dated June 4th, 1686 ^
In the fucceeding year eight new directors were added
upon a very laudable motive, which was, that of increaf-
ing the capital of the company ; for they were obliged to
pay in ready money forty thoufand livres in cafe they were
poflefled of twenty thoufand of the company's ftock, and
fixty thoufand if they were polTefTed of none ; and thefe
fums, together with thofe advanced by the proprietors,
brought fuch a fupply to the company's cafh, that even
the moft intelligent people began to entertain great h6pes,
that, after fo mc.ny difappointments, this commerce would
be put upon a folid foundation : thefe hopes were not a
little augmented by the dividends made in that year, and
in 1 69 1, amounting in the whole to thirty per cent, but
thefe flattering expe<Slation3 loon gave way to prefages of
another kind, that were better founded, and which were
entirely owing to a new drain of politics that prevailed in
France ; whereas hitherto the power of the crown had
been folely employed in protecting and advancing the
commerce of this company, notwithftanding repeated loiTes
and mifcarriages ; fo now of a fudden, when this trade be-
gan to anfwer in fome degree, that very power was em-
ployed to diftrefs it ; and the confequence plainly proved,
that how difficult foever it . might be to raife, yet there
was nothing eafier than for a minifter to deftroy a trade by
an ill-judged and untimely interpofition ■".
In order to underftand this material point in the hiftory
of the French commerce, it is neceflary to obferve, that,
finding gold and filver brocades, and painted cottons were
goods of the quickefl fale, they flruck into that branch of
trade, by which they were very confiderable gainers ; and
that they might encourage the artlfans of their own coun-
try, they imported chiefly white cottons, and caufed them
1 Hiftoiredes Indes Orientates, torn, iii.p. 16a, 163. n^ Hiftoire
de la Conipagnie des Indes, p. 75,
to
the French hi the Eqfl Indies » loj
to be painted after the Indian manner In France, by wliicli
means they had the command of the faihions ; and when
people began to be tired with one fort of goods, they re-
vived their appetites by introducing anpther. The de-
mand for thefe goods being thus kept up, and continually
increafing, the manufafturers in France fet up a general
clamour that they were facrificed to ftrangers ; and that,
if a flop was not immediately put to the importation of
thefe filks and cottons, they fhould be all ilarved. Upon
this came out an edict, dated January 27, 1687, by which
this branch of commerce was prohibited ; and it v/as with
very great difficulty that the company procured leave to
fell off what they had in their hands, and what might ar-
rive by the next (hips ; but what was moft extraordinary,
they were required to break all their moulds for print-
ing, without conlidering that this was as much a ma-
nufacture of France as any other. As to the bro-
cades, they were allowed fome little indulgence, which
however did but juil keep them from finking ; with
the aiTiftance of fome other favours, which the few
friends they had yet left at court, not without much foii-
citation, obtained. By this inilance the reader may fee
how little fafety there is for trade under an arbitrary go-
vernment, where all things depend at beft upon the un^
derftanding of a minifter, which is a very precarious te-
nure, and very often upon his capfice, or the influence
that he is under, which is the moft dreadful fituation
people can be in who have any property at all ".
Thefe, however, were but the beginning of their misfor- From
tunes ; the farmers of the public revenue, who have gene- '^^"^^, '%'
rally fpeaking the ears of minifters more at their command r -f^^'j
than other people, infmuated, that their great idol the re- intolerable
venue was prejudiced by the privileges and immunities Jiardjbips,
granted to the Eaft India company ; to, which infinuations, and a6ls <^
though their patrons readily liftened, yet they knew not ^^J'^y^^^*
well how to proceed ; for, to have gone roundly to work,
and abolilhed thefe, would have been fuch an apparent
infraction of the original ediCt, as would have been too
glaring even in that country : but the farmers general foon
got the better of this fcruple, by {hewing, that it was eafy
to enervate laws without repealing them, and furnlfhed
them with fuch a variety of expedients for this purpofe,
that though the company loft the benefit of their immu-
nities, yet they were not taken away. The next ftep was
n Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, torn. lii. p. 1651 166, 167, i6?.
Mod. Vol. IX. O th^
194
^he great
diftrefs of
the corn-
fan fi af-
fairs, not-
nvithjrand^
ing ail the
helps that
have been
given
theirit
Conquejlsy Settlements, and Difcoveries of
tlie forbidding the fale of piece goods to foreigners, upon
a fuppofition that, if they coulii not buy Indian manufac-
tures from the French company, they muft purchafe thofe
of France ; but, as they could not be forced to this, they
bought none at all ; and, as the company loft her profit,
fo the nation loft the whole produce of this branch of trade,
and were much the greateft fufFerers of the two. Then a
high duty was laid upon raw filk, of which the company
imported about feven thoufand weight a year 5 and, though
this produced a great deal, yet that could not prevent* an
abfolute prohibition, under colour that this was prejudicial
to the filk of France, though in fadl the greateft part of it
was bought by foreigners for ready money ; and thus, by
miftaking public fpirit, thofe who were then in power were
continually undoing all that Mr. Colbert had been labour-
ing to do ; and therefore we need not at all wonder, that,
after a fhort gleam of profperity, the affairs of the French
Eaft India company wore very quickly a more gloomy
afpeft than ever, notwithftanding all the pains taken by
the intelligent perfons in the diretftion to fet thefe points
in a clear light °.
The war that broke out in 1691, as it deeply affe£l:ed
the whole commerce of France, fo it was particularly fatal
to that of their Eaft India company, which was already in
fo indifterent a condition as to be icarce able to fupport it-
felf under the hardftiips which itfuffered at home, without
the addition of other attacks from abroad ; and thofe by
powers fo infinitely fuperior in force, as to be able to conv-
plete, almoft as foon as they had formed, the deiign of its
deftruclioii. They loft, as the reader will fee hereafter,
the only place of confequence they had in the Eaft Indies,
which they recovered again by the peace of Ryfwick ; but
their affairs were then in fo miferable a condition, that,
though the direftors refolved to make their utmoft efforts
to refume their trade as a company, yet they found that it
would be fo long before they would be in any condition to
bring about what they defired, that they very willingly ac-
cepted, in the mean time, a propofal for carrying on the
trade to China by a private perfon, under the authority of
the company p (P).
This
** Hiftoire de la Compagnie des Inde*?, p. 81, 82, 83. p Geo-
graphic Moderne, par Abi ahain du JBois, p. 64.6. Hiltoire des Indes
Orientales, torn. iii. p. iSi, 183.
(P) The reader will be cer- conftflencies that are vifible
tainly furprifed at various in- enough in the text ; fuch as,
that
tie French in the Eaft Indies.
This was efFe£led by granting a licence, which was hke-^
wife confirmed by the crown, to one Mr. Jourdan, a rich
merchant, who fitted out a very large fhip, called the Am-
phitrite, for that voyage, which failed in March, 1698, and
returned fafely to France on the 3d of Auguft, 1 700, very
richly laden. The fuccefs of this voyage encouraged the
that the company Ihould have
fervants in the Indies, with
faftoriesj fortsj and garrlfons,
and yet cany on little or no
trade : that they fhould be con-
tinually applying to the court
for new favours when the old
had produced fo little effe6t ;
and that, in the courfe of fo
many afiemblies of the pro-
prietors, the true origin of all
thefe evils fhould not be traced
out ; but, to fpeak impartially,
though there might be, and
very probably was, caufe for
fome blame, yet both the di-
rectors at home, and thofe in-
tfufled with the company*s af-
fairs abroad, rather deferved
pity. The major part of the
time their eftablifhment fub-
filled, the crown of France was
engaged in wars prejudicial to
the commerce of her fubjeCtsin
general, and more efpecially
deflrudtive to thofe who were
embarked in this undertaking.
Iri thofe fliort intervals of peace,
which gave them time to look
about them, they were certain-
ly not idle ; and their fervants
made them very large returns,
whichbrought inimmenfefums
of money at their fales, which
might have given them an op-
portunity of retrieving things, .
if the proprietors could have
been perfuaded to have pa-
tience ; but the fight of fo
much money excited a defire
of receiving dividends, which,
not to call it unjuft while they
were in debt> was at leall: very
inconvenient. However, in
1687, and in 1691, they made
dividends to the amount of
thirty per cent, which put it
out of their power to fend pro-
per cargoes to the Indies,
where their fervants had bor-
rowed large fums, and bought
vail quantities of goods upon
credit. The diredors were
forced to make ufe of the fame
methods at home, the proprie-
tors, who were fo ready for di-
vidends, being very backward
iii paying calls. Add to all
this, that the magnificence with
which the company fet out,
and which it was judged inex-
pedient for her to let fall, ab-
forbed very large fums. Griev-
ous difappointments, debts at a
large intereft, and bad oecono-
my, kept on to prevent a fufpi-
cion of worfe, are principled
fo naturally produ6live of de-
clenfion and deftrudion, that
the reader can no longer won-
der the French Eafl India com-
pany was reduced to great ex-
tremity^ but will be rather
amazed that llie was ilill able
to creep on, when nothing
came in for the prefent to their
diredlors, and had no better
fund for their future expeda-
tions than flattering hopes (i).
195
Ane'uj
China
company
ar'tfes out
of a Itcenct
granted by
this com-
fany to a
pri'vate
merchanU
(i) Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, torn, iii, p. 193, 194,
O 2 mer-
1^6
They exert
themfelyes
to the ut-
mojl, in
order once
more to
raife a
fund to
trade On
their own
hotiem.
Conquefts, Settlements^ and Difcoverks of
merchant before mentioned, and thofe who v/ere concern-
ed with him, to fit out the fame ftilp again 5 and this they
accordingly did in the following fpring, and (he returned in
the month of September, 1703, with as great profit as
from her former voyage, though fhe narrowly miffed be-
ing ihipwrecked, falling down the river of Canton, at her
return ^. The fuccefs of thefe voyages, one would have
thought, might have eftablifiied this new company ; but
the general war in which France was then engaged againft
mod of the princes of Europe, rendered it imprafticable ;
and thus the a£lual powers of the company lay dormant
again, though fhe was ftill poflefled of its rights, which
extended to the coafts of China, Tonquin, Cochin-China,
and the ifles adjacent *■.
While the China commerce was thus kt out, as it were.
In farm, the dire6Lors exerted themfelves as far as they
were able, in hopes of refloring their affairs in the Indies;
but, finding that abfolutely furpafled their abilities, they
w^re forced to apply themfelves to the court in the begin-
ning of 1 7c I ; and to confefs, that they were again under
fuch difficulties, that, without his majefty'^s gracious af-
fiftance, their trade and eftablifliments muft be let fall '.
Lewis XIV. who retained the maxims which Mr. Colbert
had fo often imprefled upon his mind, lent them ^ight
hundred and fifty thoufand livres, upon condition that the
directors advanced each forty thoufand livres, and the
proprietors fifty per cent, upon their refpe61:ive capitals*
With this condition the directors complied ; but the pro-*
prietors, or, as they are called in France, the a£lioni{ls,
abfolutely refufed it. Their refufal occafioned a warm
and tedious difpute, which was not ended till the year
1704, when the court decided by an arret, that the pro-
prietors ihould receive the profits, and be liable to the
debts of the company in proportion to their refpe£tive in-
terefts in its *capital : that a general ftate of their affairs
fhould be immediately laid before them, and that they
ihould be allowed to choofe a committee of five out of
their ov/n body, without whofe eonfent, the dire<5lors
fliouid be reftrained from borrowing ^ It does not appear
that this regulation had any good effecl ; for in 1708 they
became in a manner abfolute bankrupts ; fo that the king.
q Hiftoire de la Compagnie des Inde
IhdesOrientales, torn, iii p. 193, '94..
P- 91
merce, torn, ii, co!. 1049.
DiB]
Hif^oire des
P 85*
jy3, ■y^.. - ji-'.»,iionaire de Com-
t Kiftoire de la Convpagaiedes Indes,
by
the Trench in the Eqjl Indies, 197
by an arret, flayed all profecutlons at law agaliift tliem for
debt ; and, that the trade to the Indies might not entirely
ceafe, granted his permiffion for the company to enter in-
to a treaty to leafe out their privileges upon the beft terms
they could, to any private perfons ^^ho fhould be inclined
to contra61: with them ".
In purfuance of this fcheme, and the conceffion before Butpdhg
mentioned, they granted leave to Mr. Croizat to fit out '^*' ^w-
two fhips in the name of the Eaft India company, upon cort- ^^^f^'.
dition that he paid them fifteen per cent, upon all the goods receur/eio
imported under this privilege, and two per cent, upon all the farmer
the prizes they fliould make beyond the line ; with a far- mtihod of
ther refervation, that the company might be at liberty to Sf'^^^^^S
bring home, on board his fhips, ten ton of whatever com- ^^^^^^''
liiodities they pleafed, without paying freight. It is rea-
fonable to believe, that they found from this expedient
fome relief, which induced them to extend their project ;
and, for the prefervation of their fervants in the Indies,
who by this time were above ten millions in debt, they
facrificed themfelves: for, in the year 171 2, they en*
tered into a treaty with fome private traders at St, Maloes,
by which they yielded up to them all their privileges as a
company, upon the befl terms they could obtain ; and
this with a view to fupply fuch as were employed by them
in the Indies with fums fufficient to keep under the intereft
of their debts, and thereby prevent all things from falling
into confufion ^. A miferable fituatlon this, and yet the
company found themfelves unable to undertake any thing
upon their own bottoms ; fo that on the expiration of their
own privileges, by the elapfing of their term about the
time of the king's death, they warmly folicited a renewal
of them, not from any hopes of reviving their trade, but
purely with an intention to renew their agreement withth.e
merchants- of St. Maloes, that they might gain fo much as
might preferve their fettlements, and not fuffer fuch as they
had employed to be utterly undone in their fervice*. This
naturally leads us to the Indies, where we fhall refume
ihe hiflory of the French affairs, from the mifcarriage of
their defign upon the iiland of Ceylon, down to the fame
period we arrived at in the hiflory of the company, that is,
to the determination of the fifty years granted by the ori-
ginal edi<St of creation.
B Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, par Guyon, torn. lii. p. i^^.
V Ibid, p, 193, 194, X Hiftoire dela Compagnie des Indes, p. S%
O 2 SECT.
198 Conquejlsy Settlements, and D/fcoveries of
SECT. IV.
Hifiory of the Companfs Concerns in the Indies ; MaU"
tier in zvhich they acquired the Town and Fortrefs of
Pondicheny ; Defcription of that Place, and every
Thing kelongiug to it ; Pains taken to preferve and
fortify it. Excellent Behaviour of thofe intrufted with
the Company's Jffairs in the Eajl, by whom all their
Poffeffions are maintained, and fome Degree of Credit
kept up abroad, though wholly lojl at home.
An account IN the very beginning of the year 1674, Meffu
of the com- * and De la Have, dire£lors of the French ]
pany^saf- company, finding themfelves blocked up in tht
Indle^^ and Thomas, with the fmall remains of that large i
Meffieurs Baron
Eaft India
the city of St.
force which
J» nvhat had failed from France on the expedition againft Ceylon,
manner and forefeeing that it would be impradicable for them to
ihej^ ac' Jiold out long, refolved to procure, if pollible, a fafe re-
p ''^•l treat. For that purpofe they employed Mr. Martin to
therxy* treat with Chircam Loudi, governor of the adjacent coun-
try for the king of Vifapour, who had {hewed himfelf at
all times a friend to their nation, for any place that he
ihould judge proper to anfwer this neceflary end J'. Ac-
cordingly Mr. Martin repaired to Pondicherry, and found
no great difficulty in obtaining leave from the governor to
fix there upon reafonable terms. The town of St. Tho-
mas being furrendered, the two dire£l:ors marched thither
with their fmall forces, where they continued till the bcr
ginning of May, and then left Mr. Martin in pofleffion of
the place, with a garrifon of fixty men, excluiive of thofe
on board the Vigilante frigate, which remained in the road j
intruiling him likewife with the money and efFe£ts be-
longing to the company, which were pretty confiderable *.
Mr. Martin, confidering that this wealth was of no fervice
to him, and the danger to which he might be expofed
with fo fmall a garrifon, if it remained in his poiTeffion,
very wifely lent the greateft part of it to his friend Chir-
Cam Loudi, at the intereft of one and a half per cent, per
menfem ; by which he made him his fail friend, and alfo
procured wherewith to fupport his garrifon without break-
J' HlftoiredesTndes Orientales, torn. iii. p. aij. zDiftionaire
^e Commerce, torn. ii. col. 750, 791,
ing
the French in the Eafl Indies. 199
ing in upon the capital. He then wrote an account to tlie
company of his fituation ; and that, if they had any de-
mand for piece goods, they might be as conveniently fur-
niihed from thence with thofe manufactures, to the
amount of two hundred thoufand crowns a year, or more,
as from any other place upon the coaft. This was the moft
agreeable intelligence at that jun£lure he could have fent,
and fuited exa6tly with the report they had received from
their dire6lors at Surat j that, confidering how fmall aforce
they had in the Indies, they could not form an eftabhfli-
ment any where more fafely or more commodioully than
at Pondicherry ^
It was for thefe reafons that the French Eaft India com- 'thefoUw
pany directed Mr. Martin to procure that place for them i^^^it^nce
on the beft terms he could ; with which order he com- ^^^^y 1]!,^,
plied exa£lly. This gentleman obtained from the be- chafed of
fore mentioned governor, who firfl gave him leave to fettle the king of
there, a licence to fortify and to fecure his people and ef- Vifapour,
fedls ; a permiilion, of which he immediately took advan-
tage, and fettled, under the protection of his facftory, a little
Indian village of about forty houfes, in which thofe who
wrought for the company lived quietly and happily.
Things had not remained long in this condition before he
found his fmall eftablifhment threatened with total ruin ;
for the famous Seva-Gi falling, with a vaft force, into that 1
part of the country, endeavoured to overwhelm him, as a
dependent upon his enemies. However, Mr. Martin fup-
plied by prudence what he wanted in force ; and, by a
timely application, brought about a treaty, which was ma-
naged on his fide by an Indian prince, whofe friendfhip he
had fecured, which ended in a licence from Seva-Gi to
trade in his dominions, for which he paid one thoufand fix
hundred rupees. This was in the year 1680 ; and he had*
the year before purchafed the territory of the king of
Vifapour, whofe inheritance it was ; fo that now he was
tolerably fecure, only he was apprehenfive that the fon of
Seva-Gi, who was become fovereign of the place by right
of war, might take it amifs if he prefumed to raife a regu-
lar fortification without his confent ; which he obtained in \
1689, and then put it in a pofture of defence ^.
This was a very timely provifion ; for the Dutch began This fettle^
to be extremely difturbed at the flourifhing condition of ^^»^ taken
this Httle colony, and offered very large prefents to the Ra- ^^ f f"^'
a Hiftoire des Irvd-s Orientales, torn. iii. p. r\\^ 114, 215. ewtkv dbv
* MemoiresdanslesArchiv.es de laCoinpagnie des Indes, num i. fhe Dutch
O 4 jah,
20O
Conquejli^ Settlements y and Dlfcoveries of
jah, inwhofe dominions it lay, in cafe he would difpoflefs
the French : but the Indian prince, who was alfo fon to
Seva-Gi, rejedled thefe offers with contempt : he faid,
" the French had fairly purchafed that fettiement, for
which they paid a valuable confideration, and that there-
fore all the money in the world fhould never tempt him to
dillodge them." The Dutch, however, refolved to carry
their point ; and the war having bpoke out between them
and France, they made difpofitions for attacking it by force
in 1693, when they came before the place with a fquadron
of nineteen fail, and landed an army of between two and
three thoufand men, with a fine train of artillery, and fix
morts^rs. To make their conqueft the furer, they applied
to the new rajah, who was not of the fame temper with
the laft •, and, for about twenty thoufand pounds of our
money, purchafed the whole diftri6l. They then inverted
and attacked the place j which, after a good defence, Mr.
Martin, who was flill dire^lor-general for the French Eaft
India company, furrendered, upon very honourable con-
ditions, on the 6th of September, .1693 *=.
This ftroke, which fcemed to put an end to the com-
pany's authority in thofe parts, proved, in its confequences,
the happieft event that ever befel them j for the Dutch
were no fooner in polTeffion of the place, than they raifed
new walls, eredled feven regular baftions, and whatever
. elfe was neceflary to render it one of the completed for-
cherry into trelTes in the Indies, on account of its excellent fituation,
^H°°^f^^^ In 1696, upon the conclufion of a general peace, the
•^ * place was reftored to the French, who thereby acquired
the property of Pondicherry, and ail thofe fine new forti-
fications, for fo trifling a fum as five thoufand pounds,
which they paid to the Dutbh governor, upon his deliver-
ing up all that he poilefled ; which probably he never would
have done, if he had not been compelled thereto by the
orders of the States General, who, as they were great
gainers by that peace in Europe, would not perplex them-
felves with the difputes between the two companies **. As
foon as the news of this furrender was brought into France,,
the Eaft India company received orders from the govern-
ment to put that place into fuch a condition, as that, in
cafe of a fecond war, they might not lofe it as they had
done before. A fquadron was fent from France, with
two hundred regular troops for the augmentation of the
* Mejnoire dans les Archives de la Compagnie des Indes, num. i.
* Di<5lionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 791.
garrifon.
1
Upon the
rejiitution
of ity the
general
Martin
puts Pondi
the French in the Eajl In dm. 201
garrifon, feveral abk engineers, a vaft quantity of military
ilores, and whatever elie was requifite to fecure Pondi-
cherry from any future attempts of the Dutch. The
fieur Martin was again entruited with the command of
the place, which, in the fpace of four or five years he fo
changed, that it was fcarcely to be known. He not only
isompleted the fortifications according to his inllru61;ions,
and affembled a good garrifon of between feven and eight
hundred men, but built a hundred new houfes, and laid
out a regular plan for a large town, into which, by his
own prudence and good management, he drew, within
the fpace of five years, more than fifty or fixty thoufand
inhabitants; fo that in the year 17 10, it was become one
of the mod confiderable places in the Indies in the hands
of the Europeans ; and if the affairs of the company in
Europe had kept pace at all with the improvements made
by this gentleman in the Indies, the French company in
point of trade, might very foon have been in fome mea-
fure upon a level with their neighbours the Engiifh and
Dutch ^
However, this was fo far from being the cafe, that both 77/^ town
this gentleman, and fucceeding governors, were obliged enlarged,
to find means to fupport themfelves, the fai^ory and town, ^^' f^^tH^
by the trade carried on in it, and by the mdultry or the ed round it,
Indians fettled there ; in which they were fo fortunate,
that while the company was daily declining, every thing
carried the face of plenty and profperity there, and none
knew or felt any difficulty but the governors and their
council, who yet were never tempted to opprefs the peo*-
pie with taxes, or to endeavour to make their own cir-
cumflances eafier by laying part of the load upon others.
It is true, that when the town grew too large for the old
fortification, it was found necelTary to furround it with a
new wall ; but how clear foever that neceflity was, and
however advantageous for the people, fuch an improve-
ment might be, yet the governor found it abfolutely im-
praflicable to defray the expence without the afiiftance of
the inhabitants. In order to procure this he a£lcd with
equal integrity and caution; for having firft ordered the
wall to be marked out, and part of it to be ere£led at each
end, he thereby fhewed liis people at once the advantages
which would be derived from fuch a fortification, and the
expences that would attend it ; fo that when, in order to
complete his defign, he impofed upon the inhabitants a
« Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, torn. iii. p. 247'
capitation
202 Conquejlsy Settlements^ and Difcoverles of
capitation tax of two pence a month, they were fatisfied as
to the end, and the fum raifed by this impofition j and
therefore, inflead of murmuring or complaining, they
paid it with the greateft chearfuhiefs, and gave the gover-
nor hearty thanks for the care he had taken of their in-
tereft ^ As we have fhewn by what courfe of events this
fortrefs of Pondicherry became the chief feat and ca*
pital refidence of the French Eaft India company, it will
be necefTary to give the reader a more particular defcrip-
tion of the place.
Jpartku" The town of Pondicherry is fituated In the province of
iardefcrip- Gingy, on the coaft of Coromandel, in the latitude of 12
to" » for- ^^^* north, and in the longitude of 100 deg. 30 min. that
trejsl and ^s, 78 deg. Call from tlie meridian of Paris. It ftands at
magazines, the diftance of a hundred yards from the fea-ihore, and
has nothing more than a road before it, fo that they are
obliged to carry all their goods in boats for a full league ^.
The magazines of the company, and of private perfons,
are both numerous and magnificent. They have a large
and beautiful market-place, fix fine gates, and eleven baf-
tions for the defence of the walls, a regular citadel well
fortified, upwards of four hundred cannon upon their
works, befides a good train of field pieces, bombs, mor-
tars, and other military ftores. In their arfenal**. The
governor has a very fine houfe, with convenient offices,
and whatever elfe is requifite for the fervice or credit of
' the company. On the weft fide of the town the company
have a fine garden, beautifully laid out, into public walks,
and whatever elfe may contribute to the fatisfa£lion and
pleafure of the better fort of inhabitants j adjoining to
which garden there is a fine houfe richly furnifhed, made
life of for the reception of foreign princes and ambaf-
fadors, who, whenever they refort thither, are treated
with infinite refpe6t, and all their expences defrayed
by the company *. The other public buildings confift of a
large convent of the Jefuits, where they have ufually
twelve or fifteen priefts, who, befides officiating in that
character, keep fchool, and inftru£l the children of the
inhabitants in reading, writing, mathematics, and what-
ever elfe may be of ufe in civil life \ for, as to the learned
languages, they trouble not themfelves about them, and
^ DiCVionaJrede Commerce, torn. ii. col. 791. Z Journal d'un
Voyas^e fait aux Indes Orientales, par Monf. du Q^iefne, torn. ii.
p. 161, 162. hHiftoire des Indes Orientales, torn- iii. p. 253,
254. i Voyage dans les indes Oriencales, par LuUier. p. 97»
98,99. . , ,
indeed
the French in the Eafi Indies, 203
indeed they would be of little fervice in this part of the
world. There are, befides that of the Jefuits, two other
convents, but not fo confiderable by any means as the
former, which is the cafe throughout the Indies ^.
The houfes of the town are as regularly laid out as if it The great
had been all built at once, though it is now near four extent, and
leagues in extent. The Europeans build with brick ; but >'^^ ^^^'p
the Indians, and other nations, ufe only wood, in that ^ofHtplace^
manner which we call lath and plaifler ; for the latter w/7/; the
thev have the beft in the world, compofed of all forts of number
Ihelis ground to powder, and wrought up into a kind of of houfes
pafte, which, when expofed for fome time to the air, be- ^"^P^^P^*
comes altogether as white, and almoft as hard as ftone,
Thefe houfes are only one (lory high, and are ufually
eight yards in front, and fix in depth, and very indiffer-
ently lighted. Their roofs are all flat for the conveniency
of lying upon them, which they do almoft naked, agree-
able to the cuftom of the country ; for Pondicherry, lying
in the torrid zone, is extremely hot, though the climate is
found by experience very wholfome. It never rains, ex-
cept feven or eight days at moft, towards the end of Oc-
tober. The native Indians, or, as they are called here.
Gentiles, or Gentoos, are moft of them weavers or
painters ; and though the beft workman cannot earn above
two pence a day, yet upon this he is able to fubfift himfelf,
his wife, and his children, their principal food being rice
boiled in water, or wrought up into a pafte, and baked
upon the coals. The adjacent country is extremely well
cultivated, and produces rice in abundance ; fo that there
is hardly a place in the Indies of greater plenty, or where
they have flefh, fifti, and fowl, on more reafonable terms ;
although they have no other water than what is derived to
them from the overflowing of the Colram, and other great
rivers, which they preferve in lakes or ponds, and draw
for ufe through their plantations in artificial canals, after
the fame manner as in Egypt K
The governor, who is alfo direflor-general for the com- Magniji-
pany, as he is lodged in a fine palace, fo, on all public ^^''^^ ^f^^^
occafions, he makes a figure fuitable thereto in every re- f ^^T/"''
fpedl. He has twejve horfe-guards cloathed in fcariet i^r occa-
laced with gold, and an officer, who has the title of cap- Jions.
tain, commands them. He has alfo a foot guard of three
hundred men, natives of the country, called Peons ; and,
k Memoire dans les Archives de la Compagnie des Indes, num.i,
I Idem ibid.
w
hen
204 Conqiicjis^ Settlements^ and Difioverks of
when he appears in public, he is carried in a palankin,
very richly adorned with gold fringe. But all this pomp
and ftate is difplayed only on proper and particular occa-
fions, upon the receiving of princes and amballadors ; at
^ other times his guards are employed in the neceffary fer-
vice of the company, and earn to the full the wages they
are paid; for there are very few fettlements- better regu-
lated than this, which the reader will more eafily believe
when he is told that, according to the lad account taken
of the inhabitants of this place, there appear to be in it
no lefs than a hundred and twenty thoufand Chriftians,
Mohammedans, and Gentiles ; a thing altogether incre-
dible, if the fa61: was not fupported by teftimonies not to
be difputed. There cannot be a place better feated for
trade than Pondicherry, being in the midil of the Eu-
it>pean fettlements on the coaft of Coromandel, and hav-
ing all the bay of Bengal open before them; fo that the
company *s magazines are; full of all the commodities and
manufa6lures not only of the coaft of Coromandel, but of
other parts of the Indies, as Bengal, Surat, and the coaft
of Malabar, as alfo of fuch as are imported from Perlia,
and the coafts of the Red Sea ; and here likewife are their*
' warehoufes for all forts of European commodities, which
are conveniently tranfported from thence, as occasions re-
quire, to the feveral markets of the Indies'". The ftaplc
trade, however, of the place is efteemed to be piece
goods, of which the fineft are made in the neighbouring
kingdom of Golconda, and the beft painted here ; they
likewife have great quantities- of filk raw and manufaftur-
ed, gold and filver brocades, perfumes, fpices, and dia-
monds, in which they are faid to have made a great pro-
grefsoflate, and for which it is certain, they are very^
conveniently fituated, as being at. a fmall diftance from
the fineft mines in the Indies ( Q^). The French Eaft
India
«» Diflionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 750. Memoire dans
les Archives de la Compagitie des Indes, num i.
( OJ) We are told that the vel to the diamond mines with
Jefuits drive a greater trade in them, and make large pur-
jewels than either theEngllQi, chafes upon the fpot. It may
French, Dutch, or Danes; feem a little flrange how thel'e
and it is very politively aflert- reverend fathers get their
ed, that, uiing the drefs, Ian- ftones to Europe; but, with
guage, and the cuftoms of the refpedt to this, we have a very
Banyan!:, they frequently tra- lingular ilory from a man of
honour.
the French in the JEafi Indies*
205
India company, therefore, can neither be blamed for their
choice of this refidence, which, all things confidered, is
the fitteft for' them of any in the Indies ; or for the
pains and expence they have beftowed about it, amount-
ing in the whole, about forty years ago, to about eight
hundred thoufand livres, or forty thoufand pounds iler-
ling : fince they have rendered it fo ftrong and fo com-
modious, that it might eafily drive ten times the trade
they ever had in this part of the world ".
One difadvantage it has, and that too very confiderable. The great
which is, the want of a port ; for there is, as we have inco'uem^
more than once obferved, only a road before Pondicherry, ^'^^^ °f
and that none of the beft, the flux and reflux of the fea is ^fg"//"^
not above a foot or two at the mod, the landing very dif-
ficult and troublefome, fhips not being able to come within
a lefs diflance than half a league of the place ; fo that
^ Diftionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 61, 62.
honour, and of their own com-
munion, which will at once
i]i{lru<^ and entertain the rea-
der. Thefe reverend perfons,
conforming to the mode of the
country, wear the Portuguefe
Ihoes, with large wooden heels;
and it fo fell out that a Moor,
whom they had converted at
Surat in a pious fit of humi-
lity, was very delirous of
cleaning thefe holy men's
ihoes : but being apprehenliye
that the fathers would not per-
mit it if he defired their leave,
he with great fecrecy took
away two pair of fhoes, and,
retiring to a private place, fell
to rubbing them very affidu-
oufly. He had not been long
at his labour before he heard
fomething rattle in their heels,
which the poor fuperllitious
creature took for an evil fpirit ;
and roared out fo violently,
that the Portuguefe came to
fee what was the matter, to
whom he told his ftory ; upon
which this old ChriHian, who
was better acquainted with the
Jefuits than the Moor, ripped
off the heel-pieces, and took
out four neat iron boxes', made
exattly in the form of wooden
heels, in which were twenty
rough diamonds of great va-
lue. The reverend fathers
being Informed of what had
happened, applied themfelves
to the Portuguefe ; and partly
by threatening him with the
inquifition upon his return to
Goa, partly by good words,
and a reafonable prefent in
ready money, recovered their
diamonds ; but the Moor made
fuch a noife about the iron
boxes and flint flones, as he
took them to be, that all the
traders of Surat were let into
this fecret, and the Jefuits in
all probability obliged to have
recourfe for the future to fome
new invention (1),
(0 Journal d'un Voyage fait aux Indes Oiientales, pa/ du
Qnefne, torn. iii. p, 113, 124, iz^.
every
2o6
Hoiv the
go'vernoff
and the
company's
fervantSy
Jupported
themfel'ves
in tilts
flace.
Conquefts^ Settlements, and Dlfcoverks of
every thing, with refpe£t to lading or unlading mufl be
performed by boats always, with much trouble, and very
often not without danger ; yet even this fituation, or ra-
ther this difadvantage in its fituation, was very ferviceable
during the time that the fieur Martin was dire£lor-generaI
there ; fince, if the landing had not been both difficult
and dangerous, the place, no doubt would have been taken
and demoliflied in the laft general war, during the reign of
Lewis XIV. as well as in the firft, or battered or bom-
barded by the Englifh and Dutch fleets 5 for we muft put
the reader in mind, that notwithftanding we have pro-
ceeded in the defcription of Pondicherry almoft as low as
the prefent times, that we might fhew its augmentations
and improvements at one yiew, yet we are advanced in
our hiftory no farther than the beginning of the prefent
century, at which time the fovereign council of the Indies^
as It is called, was fupprefled at Surat, becaufe indeed it
could fublift there no longer, and that fweliing title con-
ferred on thofe who had the dire(fl:ion of the company's
affairs at Pondicherry, y*^hich was made the feat of the
dIre(flor or governor-general of the French company
by letters patent, dated In February, 1701, by which the
factories at Ougli, Ballezor, Kafumbazar, Cabripatan^
Mafulipatan, and others, in the kingdoms of Bengal and
Golconda, were put under Its direclion, which, though
it might feem an augmentation of honour and power, was
in truth a new burden upon thofe who had the manage-
ment of the company's affairs for above twenty years °.
In this fpaceof time, her affairs were continually declining
from bad to worfe, fo that It Is really matter of amaze-
ment how the fervants of the company contrived to keep
fo many places, not only with very little but almoft with-
out any affiftance. The cheapnefs of the country, and
their entertaining for the moft part natives in their fervice,
were favourable articles. To thefe they joined what little
trade they carried on to the adjacent ports in the Indies 5
they likewife availed themfelves in their diflrefs, by mak-
ing up cargoes for the Englifli fhips, who bought without
fcruple where they could have them cheapeft ; then came
the private traders with the company's licence, v/hom they
alfo fiipplled : but all thefe contrivances could not keep
them out of debt, or even help them to fums fufficlent td
keep down their intereft, and thereby preferve fome little
credit to ferve them uporl emergencies ; infomuch that
Hiftoire des Indcs Oiicntaks, voh iii, p. 1S2, 183, 184.
they
the French In the Eaft Indies. 207
they were pitied by the wifer and better fort, and laughed
at and contemned by the generality of the reft of the
European nations, who faw with no fmall fatisfadlion
how mean a figure the French made in the eaft, and
with what inexpreffible trouble they maintained factories
that turned to no manner of advantage p.
One circumftance, however, was very remarkable. The An extra^
company, which had been plundered and abufed while (he °,^^^"^^y
had funds, and was able to fend fuppnes, was now ierved py^n^y i„
with great integrity, and with all imaginable diligence, thofg -who
when there was no other reward to be hoped for than fair were then
words, and ample acknowlegements of their honour and "'^'*»/*^
fidelity. It is alfo worthy of notice, that all this time the
town of Pondicherry was gradually increafmg, from four
or five hundred inhabitants, to between feventy and eighty
thoufand, merely from the mildnefs of the government,
and the perfonal virtues of the Sieur Francis Martin, the
founder of this fettlement, and who lived to fee it, and all
that depended upon it, in a flourifhing condition, while
himfelf and his mafters would have thought it a great
felicity to have been barely even with the world, and not
worth a groat. Some expeiflations, no doubt, they had
upon the peace *, but when they found that this produced
nothing, and that it was not altogether certain whether
the company had intereft enough to procure a longer term,
we may very reafonably believe that they loft all hopes,
and began to apprehend that they ihould be aban-
doned in the fame manner that fome of the Portuguefe
colonies were, when the aifairs of that nation fell into
confufion *J.
But as the feeds of deftru£tion are often fown, and Honu^'mam
take deep root, in the time of apparent profperity, fo pene- and great
trating people have been of opinion, that the French com- ad'van-
merce would have never lifted its head again in the Indies *^Z^^ J^^.
but for certain advantages which accrued to the company ^f^^ coma"
in this time of her humiliation ; for, as they never had ny from
any power, from the time of their fettling at Pondicherry, thiscircum'
but what was produced by their addrefs, this hindered that fiance^
fiercenefs and haughtinefs from appearing which quickly
renders the French nation fufpe«Sed, and in procefs of
time infupportable, in foreign countries. By their remain-
ing for fo many years in this depreiied condition, which
obliged them to ftudy the tempers of different princes, and
P Lockyer's Account of the Trade in India, p. 277, 179, 286,
< Hiltoire dcs Indes Orientales, torn. iii. p. 247*
the
20 8 Conqueflsy Settlements^ and Dlfcoverks of
the difpofition of various nations, they really acquired a
fettled habit of affability, moderation, and equity. They
fliewed all poffible refpe6^ to the Indian kings and princes,
their neighbours, and to all their great officers who came
into thofe parts with forces ; by which they obtained the
friendfhip of all, and very fingular marks of efteem from
fome of them ^ They frequently did good offices both to
the natives and to the Europeans, by which they acquired
the good will of the former, and foftened the refentment
of the latter , who, making ufe of them in their factories,
as agents and brokers, not only forbore giving them any
difturbance, but alfo gratified them for their fervices.
They protected the people who had fettled under the for-
trefs of Pondicherry, the works of which they were con-
tinually improving, and kept parties conftantly abroad to
fcour the roads from banditti, marauders, and other
plunderers, with which the country was infefted. By
thefe means they attracted a fober, harmlefs, and induftri-
ous race of people, to fettle in their territory, where they
were fure of enjoyfhg in peace the fruits of their labour,
though thefe feldom rofe higher than a bare fubfiftence,
with which, however, they were eafy and contented ^
Who by this gy this manner of living in the Indies for the fpace of
condutt £^ij ££^y. yg^yg^ j.]-^gy attained, and that very defervedly, a
hiph rebu- ^^^^ reputation, their fortrefs and their vigilance fecuring
tation 'with them from furprizes oroppreffion, as their poverty defend-
the tnhabi' ed them from envy, and their politenefs from thofe in-
tants of the ly^s to which otherwife that would have expofed them*
'^* Yet"thefe were but inconfiderable benefits in comparifon
of that knowlege they acquired of the interior part of the
Indies, by the facility which their intercourfe with the
natives gave them in paffing from one court to another.
In this fpace of time there were multitudes bred up amongfl
them who had a more perfect acquaintance with the inland
traffick, the places from whence the richeft goods came,
and where the beft manufaftures were made, than could
poffibly be obtained by thofe who refided always in their
own fettlements, and who had not either the opportunities
or the temptation to undertake any fuch new journies.
Many in quality of itinerant merchants andjev/ellers found
ineans to pick up fmall fortunes; and, returning into
Europe on board the Englifli or Dutch fhips, became after-
r Hiftoire de la Compagnie des Indes, p. z8o. Hifloire dcs Indes
Orietuales, torn, ii p loj. * Memoire dans ies Archives de
ia Compagnie des Indes, num. i.
wards
the French in the Eaft IndteSi log
Wards the inftruments of that private trade which was
carried on by the company's licence at St. Malo's. All
thefe, though circumftances very little confidered at a time
when the company's affairs were fo low, that they were
conltrained to leafe their privileges to fave their fervants
from ftarving, yet contributed afterwards to the carrying '
on the affairs of their trade with more eafe, lefs expence,
and confequently larger profit, than that of any other na*
tion trading to the Indies ".
SECT. V.
The State of the Companfs domejlic Silitdtion at thi
Time of the Demife of Lewis AVK On zvhat TermSy
and with what Fiews^ the Regent Duke of Orleans
took up the Concerns of this and other Companies ;
aud what were the real Ends propofed by that Confo-
lidation to which he gave the -founding and fpecious
Title of the Union^ that a Revival of Credit might
in fome meafure refult from the Name^
7L717E muil now return again to France, from the hiftory <The dome*
^^ of their diflBculties abroad to that of their endea- /'V ^'>?orjf
vours at homci Upon the demife of Louis the Fourteenth, |f '^'
the founder of this company, and their kind protestor and £aTtndiA
patron, the adminiftration of affairs devolved upon, or at company
leaft was affumed by the Duke of Orleans, with the title rejumed
of Regent ; a prince of great parts, and who, at his en- /''<"? '^'■'
trance on the government, affe^led whatever might pro- t^^^^^*
cure him the charadter of being a loverof peace, a friend
to the people, and the guardian of commerce. To him^
therefore, as was natural, the diftreffed company applied
for an additional term ; the renewal of their privileges in
that ftate in which they flood, was all that they defired }
to have them augmented, was what they never hoped ;
for though, before the death of the king, they had obtained
a prolongation for teri years, to be accounted from the
firfl of May, 17 15, yet this, like mofl of the royal favours
they had received, was of very little ufe, fince they had
no funds left for carrying on their commerce ; and, befides,
the new term was fo fliort, that it added very little to their
credit at home or abroad. It waa from the duke regent
o Hiftoire deslndcs Orientales, torn. iii. p. 369,
Mod. Vol. IX. £ tlia|
2,10 Conquefts^ Settlements^ and Difcoveries of
that they expe£led more folld alTiftance, and fuch helps
from the treafury as might enable them to revive their
trade.- But the rep^cnt and his minifters entertained fenti-
ments quite oppofite to thofe the company had flattered
themfelves with. Inftead of being at all inclined to part
V^■ith money for other people to employ in trade, they
were contriving how to make ufe of the found and reputa-
tion of commerce to fill the king's coiFers, to pay off the
debts of the crov/n, and to difcharg'e the loads which lay
on the government, and upon the fhoulders of the nation,
by that feries of contrivances which are ftill known in
France by the name of the fyjlem-^.
EonA) tht It was with this view that the regent fhewed fo much:
regent favour and kindnefs to the Weft India company, and efta-
Duk. of bhfhed its capital at one hundred millions, and thereby
madTtVis pi^o^tired an opportunity of leiTening that immenfe quan-
andb^ner t'Xy of incumbrances which the long war had made ne-
compantes c "JiTary *. but Vvdien the Eaft India company came to repre-
fuhfery'ient f^^t the condition they were in, and fue for affiftance,.
2^ ''"■' they foon found that they had to do with thofe who under-
^ ' ftood their affairs as well as themfelves *, and therefore,
inftead of governing them, as they had done former minif-
ters, they were forced to put themfelves entirely into their
hands, and truft to their generofity and difcretion. The
eonfequence of this ftep was very probably what they
had not forefecn, lince it proved to be the diftblution
of the company in effeft, by uniting them with that of
the Weft Indies, which alfo fwallowed up others > and
this with a view of immediate benefit to the government,
and perhaps a remote profpecb to«thc advantage of the
Eaft- India commerce, the ftate of which was .now laid
open to the very bottom, and the whole brought to public
view, that the world might be induced to believe the
fquanderlng fuch large fums, the feeble progrcfs, and at
length abfolute decay, of their traffick, was owing to mif-
management; which being corre<£led, a correfpon-dence
with the Eaft Indies might become as beneficial to France
as It evidently was to England or Holland. If we confider
this revolution In the company's affairs, and the diffolu-
tion of their privileges, in a ftricSl and abfolufe fenfe, we
muft look on the new eftabliftiment as the fifth Eaft InHia
company erected In France ; but if refled:ing upon other
circumft^nces, fuch as carrying over, the effe^ls and debts
. v Hiftoiie de la Com^iagnie c^e? Indes, p. 335. Hif^iOire des
Indes Orieataies, tom. iii. p. 195.
of
the French in the Eaft lifdies.
of the old company to the new one, and fome other par-
ticulars that will be hereafter mentioned, we are content
to receive it in a more reftraii^ed acceptation, then it will
be no more than a continuance of the old company, or at
moll a revival (S).
This
211
(S) In the latter part of the
Teigh of Lewis the Fourteenth,
when the public revenues of
France were anticipated for fe-
veral years ; when the debts of
the ftate were fwoln fo high,
that new denominations were
introduced into the computa-
tion, and they reckoned not
only by millions, but milliards ;
and, when the wifeft men
thought all things mod def-
perate, M. Defmaretz hr.d the
dire6lion of the finances, who
had been the difciple of Mr.
Colbert, and, which pofterity
will hardly believe, found
means, to the very death of
his mailer, to maintain fome-
thing like public credit : but,
on the king's demife, he with-
drew, and left the dire6tion of
all things to thole enterprifing
fpirits which the Duke Regent
brought into employment. The
lirft great meafure they ftruck
out was, a kind of political in-
quifition, by which all who had
interfered in any manner with
public money were called to a
moflrigorous examination ; the
very fear of which deprived
many of their fenfes, and fome
laid violent hands upon them-
felves : yet, after all, this flam-
ing tribunal produced nothing
more than confufion, and the
regent was forced to have re-
courfe to milder methods. At
this jundure Mr. John Law, a
native of Scotland, who, by the
exercife of. his great abilities,
had raifed a confiderable eilate,
offered his fervice ; and pro-
pofed, with many improve-
ments, a projed which he en-
deavoured to i&t on foot in his
own country twelve years be-
fore. His fcheme was accepted ;
a neweftabhfimientereded, and
prodigious quantities of old fe-
curities, being liquidated, were
difcharged by bank bills;
which, in confequence of that
eflabiiQiment, and his manage-
ment of it, had fuch an efte6t
as could fcarce have been ex-
pected The Miifillippi com-
pany, of which we fhall fpeak
particularly in the fucceeding
note, was next ereded, v\rhich
by degrees was to be charged
with the whole foreign com-
merce of the kingdom, and
the cafh of this company was to
be kept by the bank. This ex-
plains the theory of the fyilem,
which was fo much magnified
by the creatures of power, that,
when this new company chang-
ed its title for that of the In*
dies, with an augmentation of
its capital, the new actions fold
for one thoufand and forty per
cent, and the old ones for eight
or nine hundred livres more.
Mr, Law was comptroller gene-
ral of the finances, director of
the bank, andinfpe6tor-general
of the company of the Lidies,
fo long as the rage of liock-job-
bing prevailed ; but when che
bank-bills loit their credit, and
theaClionsofthecompanybegaii
to decline, he was obliged to
leave the kingdom privately,
P Z
alter
itt Conquefis, Settlements^ and Difcovertes of
In the pre- This edic^ of union extinguiftied the title of hoth the
amble to Weft and Eaft India companies, as well as of the reft of
the edia of the focieties comprifed therein, and gave to the whole the
Teafons for coi^prehenfive title of the company of the Indies ^ (T).
fuppreffing IHm
f any are ' * Hiftoire des Inde* Orientales, torn. iii. p. 195, 196, 197.
afigned. _c , ^ ,,,. , ^, ..
""' '' difficulties
after lofing all his places. This
^ rotation of things happened be-
tween 171 7 and the clofe of
1720. There is no doubt that
the principal or at leaft pri-
mary view of the court, was,
to free themfelves in fome mea-
fure from that load of debt
which it was impoffible to dif-
charge; and, when this was in
fome degree effedcd, Meffieurs
Paris, and other antagonills of
Mr. Law, contrived, as the
reader will fee in the text, the
gradual delivery of the com-
pany of the Indies, and the efla-
blifhing its trade upon a regular
andpradieablebafis. We have
in this note anticipated much
of the fucceedmg hiftory, in
hopes of rendering fo com-
plicated an affair in fome de-
gree perfpicuous (i).
(T) By the affiflance of
the Eal>, or W^fl India com-
pany, or both, feveral eila-
blilhments were made on the
Goaft of Africa, the French co-
lony in Canada v/as preferved
and augmented, feveral iflands
in the Weft Indies were fettled,
a part of Hifpaniola or St.
Domingo reduced, and at length
a new eftabiifhment formed on
the famous river of Mefchafipi
or Mlffiffippi. This eikBlifh-
blifhment flruggled from about
the year 1669 to the end of the
lafl century, with almoii infur-
mountable difficulties ; and
muft have been at laft utterly
loft, but for the public fpirit
of the lieur Anthony Crozat^
who, having acquired by many
years indefatigable applicatioa
to commerce a very large for-
tune, engaged in its fupport^.
and procured letters patent,
dated September the 14th,
1712, by which he was en-
abled to undertake what he
thought necelTary for promot-
ing the interefts of his country
in that part of North America
which is now llyled Louifiana,
in which he was fomewhat more
fortunate than his predeceflbrs.
When therefore it was found
necefiary to the carrying one-
of the fyflem to frame fome
new commercial fettlement, to
which the inoft dazzling ad*
vantages were to be afcribed,
this was fixed upon, and the
lieur du Crozat having refigned
his letters patent which had
Hill ten years to run, the king,
by his edi6t dated in the month
of Auguft, 1717, and regiftered
in parliament on the 6th of
September following, ereded a
new trading fociety, under the
title of Compagnie d'Occident,
the company of the Wefi, or^
as it was commonly called, the
MilTiffippi company> the capital
of which, by an edi^l regiftered
in parliament the lall day of the
(1) Hiftoire du Vifa, tOHV* i p. 3.
tora. iii. p ^67,
Hiftoire des Orientales^
yea*
the French in the Eaft Indies, 2i j
In tlie preamble of this edifb we have a uiccin£^ hiftory
of the tranfadions upon which this union was built j
for therein it is faid, that the king, having principally ap-
plied himfelf to the reftoring the commerce of the king-
dom, and thereby repairing the lofles occafioned by a
very long and expenfive war ; and, having already had
the pleafure to fee the circulation of money wonderfully
ijuickened by the ellablifhment of the Weft India com-
pany, his majefty had from thence been led to look into
the ftate of the old companies erected before his acceffion
to the throne, and in particular into that of the Eaft *
India company, which he had found to be moft deplor-
able. In the fpace of fifty years they had, notwithftanding
repeated afliftartces from the crown, managed their affairs
io indifferently, as to be obliged to abandon their com-
merce entirely, and to take up with fuch trifling advan-
tages as could be obtained by letting out their privileges.
The king declared he was fatisfied that this want of luc-
cefs did not proceed at all from oinfurmountable difadvan-
tages in the nature of that commerce, but from the mif-
takes and ill conduct of f«ch as had been intrufted with
the management of the company's affairs, who, in the
iirft place, had made their bottom too narrow, and had
undertaken the traffick of the Indies upon too fmall a
capital. That, in the fecand place, to keep up the credit
of their own adminiitration, and to countenance their
taking fuch confiderable falaries to themfelves, they had
made large dividends when there were no profits ; and
liaving, by thefe means, exhauited the company's ftock,
they carried on their trade by borrowing as much money
as they could, at very high intereft. That, however, the
king his great-grandfather having always prote6led and
encouraged this company, and even granted them a new
term towards the end of his life, they might have en-
year before mentioned, was or beavers Ikins from Cana-
fixed at one hundred millions, da; and, in 1 718, the company
To this company, befides the of Senegal, raid the flave trade;
original conceiiion of the coun- to which, in 1719, fell in like-
try llyled Louiliana, reduced wife the Eafl India and China
into the form of a province, coinpanies, from the motives
and defcribed by that edifi:, which are fet forth in the
diere was quickly added the XQxt (i,)*
€xclufive contrad for cadors
(1) Hiftoiredes Indes Orientales, torn. iii. p. X95> 196. Dic-
i4ioiLairede Commerce, torn. ii. col. 1065, ic66.
P3 joysd
214 Conquejis, Settlements^ and Di/coveries of
joyed it, or at leall have drawn all the profits from it they
could, if their condu£l had not become fo flagrantly bad
that neither the glory of the king, nor the intereft of his
people, would permit him to overlook it any longer.
Exclufive On the one hand, there were continual complaints from
grants ^)^Q Indies, that the company had borrowed vaft fums of
Ine^com- ^ ^^^^ Gentiles, without paying them either capital or intereft,
pany oj the having, in the fpace of flxteen years, not fent fo much as
inaies. a fmgle fliip to Surat. On the other, the private merchants
carrying on this commerce in the name, and under the au-
thority of the Eall India company, were fo cramped and
opprelfed by the duty of ten per cent, and other gratuities
to the company, that they were unable to purfue their
trade with the fame fpirit and advantages which are enjoy-
ed by the fubjects of other nations ; and, befides, being
afraid to go to Surat, on account of the danger they were
in of having their fliips feized for the company's debts,
they found themfelves obliged to purchafe moft of the In-
dian commodities and manufa6lures, which they brought
into Europe, from foreigners, at a very high price, and
this equally to their own and the nation's difad vantage.
For thefe reafons, and others of the like nature alleged
againft the China and African companies, his majefty de-
clares, that the privileges of all thofe companies are by this
edi£l:, dated' in the month of May, 17 19, revoked, extin-
guiftied, and fupprefled. He granted at the fame time to
the new company of the Indies an exclufive privilege of
trading from the Cape of Good Hope to the utmoft extent
of the Eaft Indies, as alfo to the iflands of Madagafcar or
Dauphine, of Bourbon, and of France, the coaft of SofFala
in Africa, the Red Sea, Perfia, the dominions of the Mo^
gul, of the king of Siam, and of the emperors of China
and Japan, .as alfo of the South Seas, from the Streights
of Magellan, or La Maire, to the Eaft Indies that way \
forbidding all the reft of his fubje^ls thefe feveral routes,
under pain of the confifcation of their veflels and effects f.
Jn what He likewife grants to this company the pofleffions and
jnanner the effefts of the Other companies, at the fame time charging
former them with all the juft debts which thofe companies had con-
'^^rTcm- ^traaed. The better to enable them to difcharge thofe
folidated debts, and to carry on the vaft trade granted them by this
therewith^ edict, he created in their favour twenty-five millions in
(ind their Y\Qyy anions, to be purchafed only for ready money, on the
frt'vtlegej ^^^^^^ terms that the Weft India company poflTefTed one
y HlfioijedelaCompagniedesIndes, p. 114.
hundred
the Trench In the Eojl Indies, 2.1 5
liundred millions in aftions, and with the like privileges
and advantages in every reipe£l. He likewife granted full
licence and authority to import all forts of manufacfbures
of filk, filk and cotton, gold and filver fturTs, dyed cot-
tons, as alfo painted and llriped ; on condition, however,
that none of thefe (hall be vended in his dominions, but
be fold and difpofed of to foreigners, for which rcafoa
they were to be depofited in magazines under double locks,
the keys of one to be kept by the farmers-general, and the
other by the directors of the company, for the better pre-
venting frauds and collufions. He likewife grants them
leave to import all forts of white cottons, raw filks, coffee,
drugs, fpices, metals, and whatever elfe the India com-
pany might have imported under their privileges, arifing
from the feveral edicts of the late king his^reat-grand-fa-
.t*her ^
S E C T. VI.
XIpon the Incorporation of all the old trading Societies^
the Grants formerly made are confirmedy extended,
and made irrevacable, In the new one, which is
■ therefore ftyled the Perpetual Company of the Indies,
'TpHIS edi6t had all theeffedts that were expedted. Such M thefe
-*' an eagernefs appeared of fubfcribinglo this company, declared
that, inftead of twenty-five, the fubfcription amounted to ^[^g'^anTtht
fifty millions, a circumftance which encouraged the French tie'tv ejia-
miniftry to venture upon fome new regulations, which hHJhment,
were made publicby an edi£t of the month of June in the Jy^^^ ^^^
fame year ; the principal of which was, that they fhould P^'^P^^"''^^
take off four times the number of old aftions to be intitled ^°he Indies,
totheriew; fo that, in order to purchafe five thoufand
livres of the new adlions, the fubfcribers were obliged to
take twenty thonfand livres of old ones. The great end
the government propofed, was, to find the means of call-
ing in and fupprefiing that immenfe quantity of paper-
money which was fuch a burden on the Itate j and, to this
end, annuities to the valufe of twenty-five millions were
created ; which not anfwering that intention, the new
company of the Indies offered their affillancc, and under-,
•took to difcharge them at the rate of fifty millions in every
.month J To that the whole load of this paper, amountii:g
« Hifloire des Indes Oiientalei?, torn, ili, p. 203, fia4.
P 4 i^
2x6
fettUmenf
confidtred
tieceffar'ily
in i%uQ dif-
ferent
lightSy viz
fis annul-
tarn ,nd
traders^
Conquejls, Settlements^ and Difcoveries of
in the whole to ne^r fixty millions of our money, was to
be extinguifhed by the end of July, 1721 y. In confe-
deration of the zeal manifefted by the company in this
propofal, the king was pleafed, by his arret, dated in the
month of July, 1720, to change the terms on which they
held their privileges, and to declare them perpetual, re-
flraining himfelf and his fucceflbrs from ever treating them
as other company's bad been treated, in order to their ef-
tablifhment •, and thus this company acquired that title by
which they are now known in France ; namely, the Per-
petual Company of the Indies % with all the privileges of
the other four companies coniirmtd to them for ever.
In two years more it was fettled and declared, that, in
confequence of the annuities granted and aiTigned to the
company from the crown, they fliouldbe able to divide an-
nually the fum of ten per cent, which fhould be paid punc-
tually for ever ; the direftors were to be at full liberty to
export and import what they thought proper, without be-
ing accountable annually to their conftituents, becaufe the
dividends were to be regular and certain ; and they were
to manage things fo, as that the deficiencies of one year
might be made up by the profits of another. This lalt pro-
vifion regards the Eall India trade, and not the value of
the company's actions, confidered as a kind of property to
which an annuity from the public is annexed ; for, accord-
ing to this new model, the company of the Indies com-
prehended as well the public credit, by taking into a par-^
ticipation of her capital fuch as had claims upon the ilate,
and ail the extenfive commerce of the kingdom ; having
not only all the power of the Eafl India company, but alfo
of the Weil India, and other fupprefied companies erected
in her ^. In thefe tv.^o capacities the rule of conduct: pre-
fcribed by the government was very different, and yet upon
the whole very rational, or at leaft veiy plaufible *, for, as
public creditors, they were enabled to pay a fixed and fet-
tled dividend upon their aftions •, but, as a trading com-
pany, they were not bound ,to give any account, becaufe
Ht that time under very difcouraging incumbrances, which
it would require pains and time to overcome ; and the di-
vidends paid to the aftionifts in the-iiiean time, though
in another capacity, were thought fuflScient to make them
eafy till the face of their commercial affairs fhould wear a
y Di6Vionaire de Commerce, torn. iv. col. 107*. ^ Hiftoirc
des Indcs Orientales", torn. iii. p. 209, 210. a Hiftoire de la
Compagnie des Indes, p. lu, Hiltoire des Indes Oiientales, torn,
iii. p. 2.P; 211.
better
the French in the Eajl Indies. 217
t)etter afpe£):, and might bear to be exhibited without a
veil •>.
It is not a little uncertain who was the real author of this
new fyftem, very different from thofe that were made ufe
of to amufe the French nation, and indeed all Europe,
while that (Irange humour of ftock-jobbing lafted, which
might be truly flyled a political m.adnefs, of which how-
ever the government availed itfelf highly, and, by the edi£t
of union, drew out of that chaos without form or order
this new and beautiful flrudiure, v/hich has been fo truly
beneficial to the public credit and commerce of France.
To the perfe£ling of this, however, fome farther ftrokes
were found necelTary, and were accordingly in due time
very dexteroufly applied. The capital of the prefent com-
pany of the Indies was compcfed of the original capital of
the Weft India company, and of twenty-five millions add-
ed thereto upon the union of the Eaft India company ;
but it was found requifite, in order to fettle all on a juft
foundation, that the king fhould make a revifion of the
actions poflefl'ed by the proprietors of this company, in
order to diftihguifli between fuch as had acquired their pro-
perty fairly, and by purchafe, and fuch has had thrull
themfelves into the company's books only to ferve their
own purpofes by ftock-jobbing. It was in confequence of
this revifion that, by an edi6t in the year 1723, the king
fixed the a£i:ions of this company to fifty-fix thoufand,
which formed a capital of one hundred and twelve mil-
lions for their dividend, upon which they had a yearly re-
venue afiigned them of eight millions four hundred thou-
fand livres ^.
By another arret in 1725, five thoufand of thefe acElions Anew in-
were cancelled and burnt, fo that the capital of the com- fane eoj the
pany was reduced to fifty-one thoufand aiStions, and their ^o"^^^"-
dividends fecurcd by the annual payment of eight millions tg^"tiQ„ and
from the farmers -general of the farm of tobacco, the ex- regard for
clufive, perpetual, and irrevocable privilege, of vending the com-
which had been granted to the company in 1723, and ^^"/-^ '""
confirmed to them in 1725, together with the profits arif- ^^^^A^-
ing from the furs imported from Canada ; fo that the fund
for the payment of their annual dividends was as effcdtually
fecured as it was poflihle a thing of that nature could be in
France **. As for the commerce of the Indies, it was af- v
b Diflionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 1073. Hiftoire des Indes
Orientales, torn. iii. p. 211. ^ Diclionaire de Commerce,
torn. ii. col. 1080. ^ Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, todi iii.
p. 373.
fiened
2l8 Conquefts^ Settlements ^ and Dlfcoveries of
%ned to them as a collateral advantage not to be touched
for the prefent, but to be employed in Itrengthening the
fands for reitoring and maintaining that important trade,
difcharging all the incumbrances thereon, and putting it
in a condition to become as certain a fecurity for the pay-
ment of ilill higher intereft to the proprietors than they
have hitherto received ; it is therefore no difficult thing to
apprehend, that, upon fo fair a profped as this, the ac-
tions of the company of the Indies rofe into higher credit
both at home and abroad than any thing of that kind had
ever done in France ; more efpecially when people found
by experience, that dividends were regularly paid, and
thefunds upon which they were afTigned certain and itable.
But to return to what is more properly our fubjeft, and
enquire how the commerce to the Eail Indies was bettered
by thefe projects and contrivances. It is very certain that
thofe who were intruited with the diretElion and manage-
ment of the company's concerns had a far greater weight
of bufinefs upon their hands than thofe who had the care
of the Eaft India company's affairs. It was likewife very
certain, that they acqnired nothing by the grant of all that
tlie other companies poiTeffed, fince they were charged at
tlie fame time with all their debts, which rofe to a much
higher fum than the value of their effe£ls ; and it was far-
ther certain, that the purchafe-money of their actions did
Bot remain in the company's hands, but went into thofe
of the government, who indeed feemed to have a title to
k from the funds eftablifhed for paying intereft on the
v/hole capital ; yet, after all, this fcheme was very well
, contrived, perhaps was the very beft upon v/hich the pub-
lic credit and commerce of that kingdom could be ef-
tablifhed ^.
Little or nothing could be done for fupporting the trade
to the Eaft Indies but by the government, and therefore
the French miniflers very wifely thought it was as well to
take it immediately into their own care, and to advance
the fums requifite to maintain it, as to let other people
manage it ; and then from time to time to indemnify them
from lofTes, which perhaps might proceed from their own
management. With the like prudence they refle61:ed,
that, confidering the ftate of things at that time, im.menfe
fams of money would be neccflary to fet them right ; and
that, if this came to be known, the proprietors would
g^ow uneafy and fufpieiouSj and therefore they took care
* Kifl-oirede la Compagnie des Indes, p. 154.
thev
the French in the Eaft Indies. 219
they fhould not be troubled with accounts which could be
no hardfhip, while they received regularly a reafonable di-
vidend ; and, laftly, they forefaw, that when the com-
merce was put upon a proper foot, fo that fome profits
arofe from it, it would be highly requifite to fuffer thefe
to accumulate for fome time, that a proper ftock might be
raifed as well in Europe as in the Indies ; which they knew
could never be done if the proprietors had an infight into
their own affairs, becaufe a majority of them would be al-
ways for a prefent dividend, without troubling themfelves
about what might happen for the future j againft all which
evils they took care to be guarded, in a manner with which
every body was pleafed at firft, becaufe they had nothing
immediately to hope, and becaufe very few penetrated the
meaning of thofe precautions, which, in another country,
indeed, how juft and neceflary foever they might be, could
not well have been taken ^
But nocwithftanding all thefe prudential methods, the '^^efi^fieif*
miniftry were very fenfible, that, unlefs fomething was ceived^from
fpeedily done that might carry the afpe6l of reviving this the trea-
trade, and reviving it with effect, fufpicions would quickly fury^ and
arife, and murmurs fpeedily follow 5 and therefore, while '^^i^ ^P-
they had money in their hands, they judged it bed to en- ^^ '^ ^^ .
able the company of the Indies to do fomething extraordi- abroad,
nary, fo as to anfv/er the high idea that had been conceiv-
ed of the advantages that were to flow from this great re-
volution. Accordingly, towards the end of the year 1720,
three fliips were fitted out, which, befides carrying a large
cargo of European commodities and manufactures, had on
board a great quantity of filver in fpecie and bullion s.
This ftep raifed the credit of the company in Europe, and
augmented the value of their aftions. -The miniftry,
however, who were extremely well apprifed of the true
ftate of things, could not flatter themfelves with much
hopes ; they very well knew, that not only this, but much
more mud be done, only to put things in motion, to re-
cover fome little degree of credit, and reflore honour to
the nation, and refpeCl: to the French flag in the Indies.
They fet, however, the bell face upon the matter they
could, and treated the bufinefs as done when it was but
juft undertaken ; the diredlors likewlfe ordered improve-
ments to be made, and magazines to be ere£ted, at Port
L'Orient, as if vaft returns were to be made ; and though
^ Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, torn. iii. p. 374, 375. « Die-
lionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. co!. 1073.
this
220 Conqueftsy Settlements, and Difcoveries of
this was a meafure attended with expence, yet, as it might
be fome time or other necelTary and ufeful, as well as for
the prefent very expedient, they were fully enabled to a£l:
m a proper manner ^,
SECT. VIL
7he great Efforts produced by thefe wife Regulations^
which hy Degrees brought about two EJiablifhments
which hitherto had been judged impracticable in
, ' France^ an effeBual Commerce with the Indies^ and
public Credit,
Thefe ha^ve A S thofe who were entrufled with the company's con-
a!^reat ef- ''^ cems in the Indies could know nothing of this mighty
Je^ on their change in their affairs at home, fo, when they received ac-
^hl'die^ counts of it, and thofe fhips, they could not but be ex-
'wkuh af' tremely aftonifhed. Thefe fupplies, which exceeded their
teriuards hopes*, their wiflies, their conceptions, came as it were
fink longer out of the clouds ; and, coming alfo backed with aifurances
thanenjtr. of a regular correfpondence for the future, it is eafier to
imagine than exprefs how much they were tranfported.
However, as they made an honeft ufe of what they re-
ceived, and began to difcliarge their debts in feveral parts
of the Indies, the bell part of it was foon abforbed, and
confequently they were able to make but flender returns to
Europe *. Their fanguine expe61:ations met with a fudden
and fevere check ; for the downfal of the fyftem, as it was
ftyled in France, happening foon after thofe fhips failed,
the dire^lors were difabled for two years from complying
■with their promifes, or fo much as fending a lingle fhip ;
a delay which expofed their fervants in the Indies to rail-
lery and ridicule from other European nations, unhinged
their credit again, and threw them into fo fad a fituation,
that it may be truly affirmed the French were never in fo
bad a plight as in the year 1723, from the very time that
they firft fettled in the Indies. Such flrange and furprif-
ing changes, than which nothing can be more contrary to
the nature of commerce, mull have had a difmal efrecl ;
the rather, becaufe the dircdior at Pondicherry, and thofe
who were intruded with the management of other fac-
tories, could not, at that diftance, have the lead compre-
h Hiftoiredes Indes Orientales, torn. iii. p. 867. * Dic-
tionaire de Commerce) tom<ii. coL ipSi^ioSs.
henCoQ
the French in the Eajl Indies. 221
henfion of the caufes of this conduct of their directors ;
and, after what had happened, could have very little, if
any, confidence in their new mailers K But, as there
was no remedy, they were obliged to endure this evil,
great as it was, as well as they could, comforting them-
felves, if that phrafe may be properly ufed, that, let things
take what turn they would at home, they could never be
in a worfe way abroad than they were ; but two (hips ar-
riving next year, and feven others in the fpace of two years
following, they began to recover both their courage and
their credit, and found themfelves alfo in a capacity of
making fome, though not very confiderabje returns ; but,
however, thefe, fuch as they were, had a good efFeft, and
created a general opinion, both in Europe and the Indies,
that the French trade thither would ftill fubfift, and turn
to a better account than hitherto it had done K
Yet, in the midfl of this feemingly fettled and regular j„ aecottnl
eflablifliment, the perpetual company of the Indies re- of th true
mained upon fuch a foundation as nothing of the like na- M^^ ofthef
ture ever flood upon before. This company had a vail <^^I^P^^yv
capital, but nominal only ; for in reality, and at the bot-
tom, they were without funds ; their commerce, as de-
fcribed, or rather prefcribed, by the edi£l of union, was
beyond comparifon more exteniive than that of any trad-
ing company in Europe, and the means of carrying on
'this as much out of comparifon lefs. Befides all this,
there was another circumilance no lefs extraordinary than
the other two., which was, that the directors of this
mighty company, whatever they might feem in the eye of
the world, were really under direction themfelves, that is,
they depended for initruftions, ihips, money, and every-
thing zMq^ upon the minifters of ilate ; and yet, to fpeak
from what time and experience have taught us, thefe
very initances of weaknefs and inilability appear to have
been the fources of all their good fortune. For the di-
redlors, in quality of that employment, having the capa-
city only of repreienting the ilate that things were in, and
the neceflities they were under, had no temptations
to depart at any time from truth ; with this additional
check upon them, that if they did, it would have been
certainly difcovered, and themfelves removed. On the
other hand, the miniilers of ilate, knowing that their
continuance in power muil always depend upon the main-
k Hiftoire des Indcs Orientales, torn- iii. p. 367, 368, 369,
i Diulionaire de Comracrce, torn, ii. col. 1081, io8i,
tenance
222 Conqueftsy Settlements, and Dlfcoveries of
tenance of public credit, took care to furnifh their direc-
tors with fuch fupplies as were requifite to keep the ma-
chine of their commerce in conftant motion, that the
opinion which the public had entertained of the reftitu-
tion of their affairs might be fortified from their progrefs.
Thus this balance, which originally arofe in fome mea-
fure from neceflity, and in fome meafure from accident,
was more happy in it operations than any contrivance that
could have been formed by human reafon to anfwer thefe
ends ^
Whicht It was in confequence of this fyftem, procured by a pru-
frejerved dent management of all occurrences, and a conftant at-
^^^^Th *^"^'°^ ^° every incident which either happened, or had a
theminiflrv probability of happening, that things went on in this way
recovered* fourteen years, during which fpace fometimes three, fome-
times four fhips were fent every year to the Indies, and
the affairs of the company were, by thefe means, reco-
vered and reftored, though but flowly. They had ftill
great difficulties to ftruggle with; for, , in proportion as
their commerce revived, their expences enlarged by their
being obliged to re-fettle their old factories, and to eftab-
• lifh new ones ; fo that in all this fpace of time there was
very little, if any, clear profit accrued from their trade.
On the contrary, they ran fome years into debt, but not,
however, without profpefts of future advantages. But
as the other trading nations in the Indies were en-
tirely unacquainted with the fecrets of the French com-
merce, fo, judging by appearances only, they were full
perfuaded that their trade was in a flourifhing condition,
becaufe they faw it vifibly extended, and the returns made
to Europe far more regular, and at the fame time more
confiderable alfo, than they had hitherto ever been. Yet,
notwithftanding all this, if they had gone on in the fame
manner, it would have been many years before they
"would have been able to fupport themfelves, and carry on
their trade upon their own bottom j for gradual fupplies
were ftill neceffary, and the continuance of peace enabled
the minifters to furnifh them, yet always in a frugal
manner, and fometimes fparingly"".
M Orry The dire£lors, having the difpofition and management
and de Qf thefe fupplies, as well as of the returns from the Indies,
r f ;• ^^""^ obliged to make the one go as far as it was .poffi-
effeduat b^^> ^^^ ^^^^ Other rife as high as they could j a conduct
ajjifxance.
J Diftionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 1087. *" Hiftoire
des Indes Orientales, tom. iii. p. 369.
which
tie French In the Eafi Ingles. 223
wIiIcK contributed greatly to fave appearances, and
to keep things in tolerable order, though they could
not help perceiving, and even remonftrating fometimes,
that this was living merely from hand to mouth, and con-
fequently mifpcnding that feafon of tranquility, when, if
ever, tney might have an opportunity of retrieving their
affairs: but in tJie year 1737, iVIeffieurs Orry and de
Fulvy being at the head of the finances of France, which '
they managed with furprifmg fuccefs, the company fell '
naturally under their care and protedion. They faw
plainly that larger fupplies were neceflary to extricate
them from the difficulties under which they laboured ;
and therefore, having firfl made a (Iricl enquiry into their
affairs, j^nd taken care to put them into the bed order
poffible, they furnifhed them with fuch fums as were ne-
celTary for augmenting their commerce •, fo that in the
fhort fpace of two years they doubled their returns, and
in three years more brought them to thrice as much as they
had formerly been. By this management their fales at
Port L'Orient became regular and confiderable, increafing
in fuch a manner, that the public fale in the year 1742
produced twenty-four millions of livres, or about one
million of our money, befides which, they referved in
their magazines goods 'to the value of four millions of
livres more; and the firft fhips that arrived in .1743
brought home fiiill a more valuable cargo. This extra-
ordinary change in the company's affairs alarmed and
am.azed all Europe, but more efpecially the maritime '
powers, who faw, with infinite concern, a company, that
but a few few years before was looked upon as funk and
deflroyed, now rifing into as high credit as any of their
own ". " But perhaps their concern would have been in
fome meafure alleviated, if they had but fo much as fuf-
pe6\:ed that this profperity was in a great meafure artificial,
and confequently much more in the power of accidents
than, in all appearance, it feemed to be.
We may from hence difcover what great benefits ac- fj^^ ^^^^
crued to France from purfuing the maxims introduced by the care of
the regent, and which feemed to govern the court during this im-
the pacific adminillration of cardinal Fleury. We may P^^^^f^t
like wife perceive what the real motives were, which, upon JJ^^^fJ^,
certain occafions produced fo much real or pretended encedth'e
complaifance for the maritime povv^ers, fince, as the fe- ^/?^ot 0/
quel will fhew, any rupture with them muft have expofed ^'^ench
n Hiftoire dcs Indcs Orientales, torn. iii. p. 369, 372.
■ this
424 Conquefts^ Settlements^ and Difcoverks of
this tender fyftem to ftorms and tempefts that it could
not have fuftained j and it helps us farther to underftand,
why the court of Verfailles entered fo eafily into, and
continued fo lleadlly to profecute whatever meafures were
thought neceflary for procuring, firft, the fufpenfion,
and then the fuppreffion of the Oflend company. They
knew that if this eflablifhment prevailed, it muft be at the
expence of fome other, and moft probably of their own,
as it was Itiil the weakell, and in reality much weaker
than either friends or enemies conceived.
Bynvhat We may very juftly attribute to the fame caufes, atleaft
7»eafis that jn a great meafure, that parfimony for which the cardinal
falutary ^^^ ^^ much condemned in the war, which commenced in
toheun- ^^^ Y^^"^ ^7 39 J ^^^ indefatigable endeavours to procure a
njoiUingly neutrality with one of the maritime powers, and to avoid a
relinqutjh- diredl breach with the other; as forefeeing that this would
edby the ^^^ Q^\y y^^ highly prejudicial to the commerce, and thereby
nifters ^^' ^^Y °P^" ^^^ weaknefs of France, but alfo bring to light the
manner in which it had been for fo many years fuftained, as
well as put it out of the power of the miniftry to fuftain it
any longer. Thefe confiderations, which made no manner
of imprelfion upon thofe who preached up the king's glory,
and his having it in his power to give law to Europe, were
however intolerable to another race of men, who had the
good of their country fincerely at heart, and thought the
king's glory could never be provided for fo well, as by
rendering his fubjecfls rich and happy ; befides, they only
could and did forefee what events would follow this fpirit
of giving law, and extending the French influence where
its power could never reach, and where confequently they
muft truft to the honour of thofe who received their
Wages, whether they would earn them, or whether, in
regard to their own intereft, they would not manage mat-
ters fo as to receive them as long as poftible j which was
an expence their treafury could not bear, and which muft
therefore quickly put it out of their pouter to make thofe
annual payments which had been hitherto the only true
and availing refource of their Eaft India company*
But this It was fome time, however, after the laft war began,
alteration before any fufpicions of this kind reached the company or
'" '^"/? h *^^ public. On the contrary, the former exerted herfelf
Tne pro- ' ^^ ^^> ^" iMc\\ an emergency, flie thought it her duty to
duced by give her affiftance to the latter. All this, however, was
vecejjity, calculated to keep the true ftate of things as much con-
ivas defer- qq^XcA as poffible, and the dlvidencis being likewife regu-
^'ftoSRblf ^^^y P^^^* ^^^^ actions of the company were kept up very
* f'*' ' high
the French In the Eqft Indies* 225
Kighj a drcumftance which gave no fmall credit to the
nation ^. Nay, fo far were the proprietors from having
the llighteft notion of the real ftate of things, that they
difapproved the pubUc fpirit of their directors, fpeaking
of the offers they had made for the king's fervice as a di-
re6t proof that the trade of the Indies was carried on for
the benefit of the crown, contrary to the promifes that
had been made them p. This fufpicion, having once got
abroad, met with a general reception, at leafl amongft fuch
as were interefled in the company's ftock, who were
firmly perfuaded, that if part of the produce of their vafl
fales had not been diverted to fupply the expences of the '
government, their dividends might have been increafed to
fifteen, or even twenty per cent. ; and from thefe fur-
mifes, inftead of being thankful for what they had, and
for all that had been done for them, they murmured that
the dire6tors kept every thing fecret ; that they were (hut
not only out of the management, but from the knowlege
of their own concerns ; and that, whatever benefit this
myflerious conduft might be to the ftate, it did not alter
the cafe with refpe6l to them, who were deeply injured by k.
But the war with Great Britain increafing, the expences Conjira'med
of France on the one hand, and leliening her income on to open this
the other, the fecret at laft came out, and Mr. Orry was ^ff^^*" ^^
forced to acquaint the direftors of the Eaft India company, ^l^^,P^°'
that the king s airairs were m luch a poiture as would no ^yj^ ^^a
longer permit him to fupply the company in the manner Udia com"
he had hitherto done ; fo that now they were to ftand pa^j*
upon their own bottom, and to carry on their trade for
the future as well as they could *i. This unexpe£l:ed flroke
demolifhed the whole fabric which had been raifing for fo
many years, and reduced the anions of the company to
eight hundred, from two thoufand and upwards. The
main caufe of this redu6lion was, the propofition madb
by Mr. Orry to their dire£lors, that either the proprietors
fhould fubfcribe upon their adions, or fufFer their divi-
dends to be poftponed for a certain time, or fhould come
to fome agreement amongfl themfelves fot compounding
thefe two methods, by advancing part in ready money,
and allowing their dividends to go in difcharge of the relt.
The motive that obliged the miiiiftry to this difcovery,
was the necefhty of having money to carry on the Eaft
o See the Paris Gazettes during the firlt years of the war.
pHiftoiredes IndesOrientales, torn. iii. p. 375, qMercur*
Hiltoriqueet Politique, torn, cxvii. p. 497.
Mod. Vol. IX. Q India
226 Conquejtsy SettfementSy and D if convenes of
India trade, which they knew milfl be ruined even by i
temporary ftagnation -, which money, fiilce the crown-
could no longer furnifh, it was neceflary the proprietors
fhould. But to this it was anfwered, that hitherto the
( proprietors had been no gainers by that trade, had no ge-
neral accounts made up to them of if, and, according to
the confeiTion of the dire£lors themselves, w6re to receive
no fuch account if this accident had not happened, by
which they aflerted, that their properties had already lofl
one half of their value, and might very probably lofe part
of the other half; fo that they were leall in a condition to
pay when this demand was made, which would have been
fufficiently grievous even in the midft of peace, and when
their actions were highefl.
*Tk€inini^ Mr. Orry told them in return, that they had no reafon
Jltrs refute f^ complain of the king or his mlnillers, who had hitherto
all the a fupported this trade for their advantage, without their con-.
'^r'aifed tributing to it at aH : that, if they had received no profits
againfl from their trade, it was becaufe no profits had accrued ;.
their pro' and this not through any ill management, or becaufe this
pojitions^, commerce had not been carried on to great advantage, but
by reafon of that immenfe load of debts which lay upon
them at their firft efcablifhment, and which the profits of
the trade were to pay oiF; and the prodigious expence the
- company had been at, both in Europe and in the Indies,
for putting their commerce on a folid and certain footing ' :
that to remove doubts upon this fubjeft entirely, and that
they might be fatisfied of the truth of thefe particulars, a
general account of their trade fhould be bid before them,
by which they would fee, that, though llowly, it had been
continually improving, and that of late years efpecially it
had thriven exceedingly * : from which alfo they might be
fatisfied, that even at prefent it was fo far from being in a
Jdefperate condition, that, riotwithftandirig an immediate
fum was neceffary for carrying it on, yet there was no
danger of their being called upon for another fupply, fince
what was now alked would be fufficient to put the com-
pany into a condition to maintain itfelf without intrench-
ing upon their dividends, which fliould for the future be as
regularly paid as they had been in times pad ^ It is from
this general account that Ifrangers, as well as the, pro-
prietors, liave come to fodiflihS a knowlege of their af-
» Hiftoiredes Ir.desOrientales, torn. iii. p. 374" 9 Me retire
Hiftorique et Politique, ubi fupra. * Hiitoirs des Orientales,
torn, iii.p. 375,
fairs^
the French in the Eaft Indies, 227
fairs, fmc^, had it not been for this unexpefled accident,
they would never have let the world into the truth of an
affair which they had concealed with fo much care for {o
many year^, which nothing but neceflity could force them
to reveal, and which had fuch immediate bad effe(Sl:s as
they very well forefaw it would ; notwithftanding that, all
things confidered, the proprietors had lefs grounds to
complain than they imagined ; and, if their great ex-
pectations were defeated, they had at lead the fatisfaclion
of knowing that they had been better ferved all this
time than their predecefibrs had ever been at any other ; *
and, after all, there was a better profpeft than ever, if they
could but have a reafonable degree of patience, and bear
with fome kind of temper a misfortune that would admit
of no other remedy than what the minitlers propofed.
The worft confequence that attended this affair, with j^j^^^ ^^„^
refpeCl to the nation and the company, was, the letting fequences
all Europe fee that this commerce was a thing not to be attended
carried on in France, as in other countries, by a fociety of '^^f i^eda-
private perfons incorporated by public authority, but muft
be direded, upheld, and managed by miniOiers, or at leaft
in fubordination to them ; fo that whereas m other coun-
tries trade fupports the ftate, in this, on the contrary,
trade cannot flourifn, or even fubfift, but from the atten-
tion, and through the affifbance of the ftate '^ As to the
company, it fhewed, thai?, notwithftanding appearances,
it was very far from being upon a level with other com-
panies, though never any of them in any. country had been
fo much cherifhed, or received fuch fupplies from the go-
vernment that gave them being ; yet, after all, this affair,
which made fo great a noife at the time, paffed over eafier
than could have been expefted ; the proprietors, after a
little murmuring, fubmitted to what they could not help ;
and, by the affiftance of a few lotteries, were pretty well ex-
tricated from the difficulties brought upon them by this
declaration ^. To fay the truth, their ftock, even fmce the
return of peace, has not rifen fo high as it was before ;
but then it has rifen as high-as could be expelled, and the
regularity of their falesanddividendshasbeen again reftored.
u Hiftoire de la Corapagnie des'Indes, p. i57« ^ See th«
Gazettes, and othler periodical pieces fince.
Q^a SECT.
^28-
Conquejis^ Settlements^ and Difcoverles of
Theprefeni
JiRte of the
company in
the Indies,
JUn aeount
cfthe JJle
o) France.
7ke natu-
ral hifiory
of this
Ijland,
SECT. VIII.
ne Hifiory of the Company^ s Proeeedings in the Indies^
and an accurate Account of their Settlement s^- and par-
ticularly of thofe two important JJlands of France^
while in the Hands of the Dutch, ftyled Mauritius,
and of Bourbon,
I T mufl be allowed, that, in the courfe of the war before
lad, the French government took particular care of the
company's concerns in the Indies, and fupplied them with a
fufficient force not only to defend themfelves, but to a£t
ofFenfively, as, on the other hand, the care of thofe in^
frufted with the direction of affairs^ as well in the iflands
as in the Indies, manifefted their zeal and diligence by the
prefervation of the places with which they were intruded,
though vigoroufly attacked. As we have now conducted
this hidory from the earlieft endeavours of the French to
fix a correfpondence with thefe remote countries, it re-
mains only to defcribe their poffeffions in Africa, in the
Indies, and in Europe, which have a reference to this com-
merce.
We will begin our account of the places actually in the
pofleffion of the perpetual company- of the Indies with a de-
•fcription of the Illand of France, which feems to belong to
this fociety in a peculiar manner, as not being included in
the concelhons made to any of the old Eait India com-
panies.
The Ifle of France lies in the latitude of 20 and 21 dtg.
fauth, having the ifland of Bourbon, which is the neareil
land, to the fouth-weft j the ifland of Diego Ruys on the
north-eaft ; the Indian ocean diredtly open to the north ;
the great illand of Madagafcar, andthe continent of Africa
on the weft ; and the tinknovv^n fouthern continent on the
eaft *; The climate is- pretty warm, but notwithftanding
very wholfome ♦, the air ferene, and very little expofed to
hurricanes. The foil is, generally fpeaking, red and ftony,
the mouifitainous towards the fea-coafts, but within land
there are many fpots both flat and fertile. The whole ex-
tent of the ifland is about fifty leagues, and the form nearly
circular. Some of the mountains are prodigioufly high,
and their fummits covered with fnow all the year round.
Oeographie Mo^erne, par Abraham du Bois, p. S18.
They
tie French tn the Eajl Indies, ^29
They make, however, no defpicable appearance, as they
are cloathed with trees of diiFerent kinds, that entertain the
eye with perpetual verdure. The whole ifland is well wa-
tered, or at lead there is no part but may be fo, by the
proper application of art and indullry rn its inhabitants ^.
This eountry produces all the trees, fruits, and herbs, Adnjan-
which grow in this part of the globe, and in great plenty ; ^^^" *^^
but it was, and llill is, famous for its ebony, efteemed the ^>^,
moft folid, clofe, and fhining, of any in the world. Befides
the black, which is the moll valuable, and indeed particu-
larly diftinguifhed in Europe by that name, there are alfo
trees of the fame kind which are red, and others of a citron
colour^. Groves of oranges, both fweet and four, are
common, as well as citrons ; and the pine-apple grows
fpontaneoully in very great perfe(^ion. It is true they
have but very little rice, or indeed any other grain ; but
this defe6l is, in fome meafure, fupplied by admirable
potatoes, and other nourifhing roots, but more efpecially
of late by the planting of manioc or caiTavi from Brafil *.
There is a fufficient quantity of black cattle, and plenty of
venifon, wild fowl in abundance, of different kinds. The
lakes, rivers, and the fea that furrounds it, are full of fifh
of different forts, many of them large, wholefome, and .
ilelicate. It was formerly famous for land and fea tortoifes
of an enormous fize, tlie flefh, eggs, and fliells of which
were excellent ; but thefe are now become more rare.
However, it may, upon the whole, ^be ftyled, if not a rich,
yet a pleafant and plentiful country, where the inhabit-
ants, with a reafonable degree of care and pains, may be
furniflied with all the neceffaries, and even conveniences
of life ; more efpecially, fince it is now annually vifited
by veffels from Europe and the Indies. We fhall conclude
this defcription with obferving, that it does not harbour
either ferpent, frog, tOud, or other venomous animal. The
mofl difagreeable creatures therein were bats of a prodi-
gious fize, which fome old writers of voyages ftyle flying
cats ; but thefe are, In fome meafure, extirpated ''.
Some ancient geographers having mentioned an ifland Mifiaiit
in thefe feas, called Cerne, which probably gave occafion «i^»# /^
to the Portuguefe to beftow that name on the ifland of 'I/^^*
which we are fpealdng, notwithftanding that Pliny ex-
prefly places it in I'S (kg. 30 min. of fouth latitude; fo
y Voyage deLeguat, tarn. ii. p. ^4, 65. '^ Di6^ionairede
Commerce, torn, ii.col. 186. edit a Geneve, 1750. a Memoire
f'e La Bourdcnnayejtuui. i p. 18. ' "^ Vo)'a^e de Legu^i, torn.
ii. p. 70 — jz.
Q 3 that
230 Conquejls, Settlement s^ and Difcoverles of
that for this, »s well as other reafons, we may pronounce
them in a miiiake. I'hey difcovered it in the beginning
of the fixteenth century ; and, according to their ufual
cuflom, put on fliore fome hogs, goats, and fowl, that
they might multiply, and fupply the neceflities of thofe
who fhould at any time call there, the ifland being unin-
habited : and fome think that they likewife planted there
> certain fruits and feeds from Europe and ihc Indies. Be
that as it will, there is no mention of their occupying it
any further 5 and in reality, coniidering the extenfive em-
pire they held, the numerous enemies they had to cope
with, and the fmallnefs of their own numbers, we may
much rather wonder that the Portuguefe fought out and
defcribed fo many countries as they did, than that they
reduced and fettled no more. However, what they did
ferved to make the place remarkable, and the Dutch had
it early in their charts, as well as another illand, called St.
Apollonia, with which this has likewife been confounded,
and which is now very jultly believed a fi£lion, fmce mo-
dern feamen ccmM never meet with any fuch ifle^
Vifitedhy 'I'he Dutch, in the fecond voyage they made to theEall
the Dutch. Indies, under the command of the admiral James Cornelius
Vanneck, went thither, on the i8th of September, 1598,
with five (Inps, and anchored in a fafe port, capable of con-
taining fifty large veflels. They found the country, which
probably had been for many years undifturbed, abounding
with cattle, fowl, fifh, and fruits ; fo that they landed
fuch of their crew as were fick, who fpeediiy recovered ;
and having fupplied themfelves with all kind of refrefh-
ments, and bellowed the name of Warwick's Haven on
the port where they anchored, in honour of their vice-
admiral, they continued their voyage, and entered, as an
ufeful obfervation in their journals, that this ifland might
be as commodioufly vinted by outward-bound fhips as that
of St. Helena in their return ^ : but though many of their
countrymen reaped the benefit of this advice, and though
they named this ifland after prince Maurice of Naffau, yet
it was near forty years before they thought of fettling
there •, and were then juil beforehand with the French,
who actually fent a velfel thither from Dieppe for the like
purpofe, who found the Dutch in £oireirion, and very bu fy
in raifinga fort, that might command the haven, and the
place where fliips took in water *".
c Geographic Moderne, par Abraham Du Bois, p. S 1 S, ^ Voy-
ages de laCompagnieiksrndesOrientales, toin.ii. p. 157. e Re-
lation du Voyage de Francois Cauche, de Rouen, en I'Iflede Ma-
clagafcar, liles adjacentcs, et Cotes d'Afrique, p. i.
About
the French in the Eaft Indies, 23 1
Al)Out the year 1640, the Dutch had two or three little Tke Dutch
fettlements, befides their fort, upon the iiland; but want- ^^'^ ^'''^^»/*^
ing Haves to cultivate their plantations, they fent over a break faith
bark to Madagafcar, wher^ the French had juft begun to '^^ati-ve/
plant, and prevailed upon the governor, and another offi-
cer, to ileal fifty blacks, of thofe that were fettled' under
their protection ; which fcandalous breach of faith proved
the ruin of both colonies, for the people of Madagafcar
never had any confidence in the French afterwards ^ ; and
as for the negroes that were carried to Mauritius, moil of
them fled into the woods and mountains, where they be-
came what in the Indies they call Marons, that is, outlaws
or banditti ; and as they readily afforded fhelter to all who
would join them, the Dutch, notwithitanding they had a
conflant garrifon of fifty men in the fort, were continually
expofed to their infults and depredations. Thefe, with
other incidental calamities, made them weary of the place,
where, through the company's parfimony, but chiefly
through their own lazinefs, they were fometimes in great
want, though ebony bore a good price, and they might
have raifed confiderable crops of indigo and tobacco. At
length therefore they quitted the ifland, and left the wild
negroes in poffeffion, who kept, notwithftanding, for the
moil part, in their faftneffes, from whence th^y fallied >
upon the crews of fuch fhips as. went thither for refrefli-
jnents, and often furprifed and cut them off. Thefe out-
rages occafioned fuch complaints at Batavia, that the ge- ■
neral and council came at length to a refolution, that the
ifland fiiould be refettled, believing that fuch precautions
might be taken, as would obviate all the objections raifed
againll the colony at Mauritius ^\
Accordingly three eilabliiliments were formed ; one on 7;^^ Dutch
the north-eaft, another on the fouth-weil extremity of the refettle the
ifland, and a third upon that which is called the Black 5/?^«^» but
River. To this place ftate criminals were frequently ba- ^^^Z^-^f J
jiiflied, -from Batavia and other colonies, and orders were ^^ „^j^ ,^,
given for ere£ling a ilone fort, with magazines and ware-
houfes, for the conveniency of fuch Dutch (lups as touched
there ; vv^hich i^ery quickly put things upon a better foot
-than they had been. The feeds of mifchlef, however, re-
mained, and ibme new ones began to take root, and dil-
|)lay themfelves very apparently. Qn the one hand, the
^ Hiftoire de grande Ifle de Madigafcar, par Monfienr Fiacoort^
|). ji. cap. 8, g From private iniormation, which may be cte-
liAided ©K.
0^4 Mai'OMS
232 Conquejis, Settlement s^ and Difcoverm of
Marons remained lords of the interior part of the ifland,
fo that the Dutch were forced to confine their fettlements
to the fea-coafts, and this fituation led them very naturally
to an illicit trade. Amonglt thofe who were banifhed thi-
ther, fome were very fkilful in this kind of traffick, the
governor's allowance was but fmall, his perquifites not
very large, and therefore he was but feldom able to with-
ftand temptation. Englifh, French, and Portuguefe (hips,
met with flrange accidents, which obliged them to put in-
to Mauritius to refit, though the inhabitants had hardly
any thing better than canoes, nor fo much as a dock or a
yard where they could build a bark, but they had maga-
zines, into and out of which goods could be conveyed with
fmgular dexterity. About the beginning of the current
century, the directors of the Dutch Eafl India company
in Holland came to have fo thorough an underftanding of
the pra£lices at Mauritius, that they refolved to withdraw
the colony j which was accordingly brought off, fome fay
in 1703 S and others, with more probability, in 1710;
and thus the Dutch government and the name of Mauri-
tius were extinguiflied together.
Granted^ We have no dillinft account at that time, or in what
by the title manner tlie French took pofleffion of this deferted iilej
ofihel/leof ^^^ jj. ^^1^ Yi2iv^ been during the fpace that the old Eaft In-
the coin- ^^^ Company's privileges fubfifled, fince we find it convey-
pany of th^ "cd, with the reft of that company's territories, to the com-
Indiesy by pany of the Indies, by the name of the Ille of France ^ ;
lewis XF. yei- polTeiTion was not formally taken till more than two
years after 5 the edicl: fof" uniting the company being in
May, 1719J and the monument of pofleffion taken, ereft-
ed by the chevalier De Fougeray, is infcribed September
;?d, 1 721 ^. It feems that in this, as in other c-^fes, the
French government had a mind to make the world believe,
that to begin and perfe61: was the fame thing ; for, by an
edift, dated two months after pofleffion was thus taken,
a provincial council was creeled in the Ille of France, de-
pendent, however, upon that of Bourbon, the council
there being declared fuperior upon this occafion ; and the
fieur De Nyon, governor of the Ille of France, w^as dire£l-
ed to take his oath of office in the fuperior council of the
I He of Bourbon, before he prefumed to take his feat in his
own, where he was to be affifted by fix counfellors, which
h Hamilton's Account of the Eaft Indies, vol. i. p- 19. ^ Hif-
toire delaCompagniedesIndes, p. 581. ^ Le Grande Dic-
tionaire Geographique et Critique, par M. Bruzen la Martiniere,
torn, jv, p J60.
Height
the French in the Eajl Indies. 233
might very probably be the better part of all the mafters or
heads of families in the ifland.
But notwithftanding the magnificent figure It made upon Yet this fet'
paper, the company of the Indies had much ado to refolve, tiement un-
after more than ten years trial, whether they fhould keep P^^P^'' '•
this potent colony, or leave the ifland to the wild negroes
again, as the Dutch had done. To fay the truth, the
grounds of this perplexity were by no means trifling. The
company had furnifhed all who went thither, either whites
or blacks, with utenfils, arms, and provifions, to be repaid
out of the fruits of their induftry, which were fo great
after their arrival and eftablifhment, that they could never
maintain themfelves, but continued a dead weight upon
the company. At length, in 1735, it was refolved to fend
over Monfieur De la Bourdennaye, with the fwelling title
of governor-general of the iflands, both the councils, by
his advice, being declared independent, and that fuperior
in which the governor was prefent ^ Upon his arrival in
the Ifle of France, he found it in a miferable condition,
very thin of people, and thofe ignorant, lazy, and fedi-
tious, as if they had not been as they really were, naked,
defencelefs, and ftarving. This gentleman went to work
with ail the vigour and public fpirit imaginable, and at the
expence of making every man under his command his fe-
cret enemy, though they all profefled that he was the
wifeft, gentleft, and bed of governors, he foon put things
to rights, and brought the greateft part of them to believe
that he really was, what out of fervile flattery they called
him.
He fent for young negroes over from Madagafcar, bred J'^P^o'vedt
them up in honed and religious principles, and then made ^^^^g^,
ufe of them againft the Marons, whom he obliged either deredofthe
to fubmit, or to quit the ifland. He found in the ifland greateji
fcarce a planter, manufadlurer, or foldier ; he made every ^o^f^-
able man that refided there all of thefe, by (hewing him, ^^"^''^ ^
that it was his intereft, and placing the eflence of his own Bourden-
power in his example. When he came, there was nothing naye,
but cabins ; in the fpace of a few years, befides private
habitations, he erected magazines, arfenals, barracks, for-
tifications, mills, quays, canals, and aquedu6ls, particu-
larly one that carried frefh water down to the port, and to
the hofpitals, three thoufand fix hundred toifes in length,
which work efFe6lua!ly removed the mod troublefome cir-»
cumdance th::t hitherto had impeded their thriving. They
^ Memoire de la Bourdennaye, torn. i. p. 18.
had
234 Cvnqueps, Settlements, and Dlfcoveries of
had never been fkilful enough to clean or repair the fmall*
eft vefTel for their own fervice, but were forced to lay them
up when foul or decayed, till fome Ihip came in, when
they could hire the Carpenters to do what they wanted.
They had not either roads, carriages, or fa wing-mills \
the governor enabled them to get the better of thefe wants,
'^w^y in eighteen or twenty months, brought down a large
quantity of ferviceable timber to the port, where he pro-
vided yards, wet and dry docks, pontons, canoes, Aial-
iops, and whatever elfe was requiiite for careening, which
he performed as efFeftually as in Europe. In 1737 he
launched a brigantine \ in 1738, he built two good Ihips,
and, towards the clofe of the year, put one upon the
' flocks of the burden of five hundred tons. In a word, in
four years the port of the Ifle of France was as fit for
building or careening as L^Orient, the bufinefs as effec-
tually done, and with more expedition "'.
Methods by All thefe public fervioes could never have been brought
'whkk the about, if he had not attended, at the fame time, to the per-
inkabitants fonal interefts, and private advantages, of every planter in
dZ'J^To ^^ ^^^"^- -^ ^^'^ inftances will fuffice to fet this im-
imprtnie- portant affair in a clear light. In the firfl place, he pre-
ments vented their ever being diflrefied for food, that is for
agreeahkto bread, which had often happened before, and was the
tucam^ principal caufe of their poverty. He obliged them to plant
^' five hundred feet fquare of manioc for every black man
and their families. At firft they were very averfe, and
fome were fo wicked as to dellroy thefe plantations, after
they were made ; but, by "degrees, becoming more ac-
cuitomed to this diet, they acquired fagacity enough to
perceive, that brown bread was better than none. He
next prevented their flaughtering cattle at random, obliged
the crews of the company's fliips to be fatisfied, during
their (lay, with filh and^:urtle, when it was abfolutelyre-
quifite \ and, by this temporary feort allowance, fecured
to them perpetual plenty. He put them upon raifing
commodities and manufacllures of which they never
thought; and, amongft the reft, he fet on foot fugar-
works, for the profit of the company, which brought in,
when he left the iiland, fixty thoufand livres a year ".
M. aela ^jj <^^{^ ftranp;e thines were performed between 17^C
nan ac- *^"^ ^ 74^' ^"" irom tnence we may account tor that other-
cufedin wife inexplicable myftery, how the I fi and of France came
France, ^ J^upplement au Memoire du Sieur de la Bourdennaye, p. 51,
notivith- ^^^ ^^^ n Diftionaire de Commerce, torn, ii- coU 1Z07,
Jianding all guppiement au Memoire du Sieur De ia Bourdei-inayej a, 50.
\jlces.
the French in the Eaft Indies. 235
to be in a conditioD, when the Britiih fquadron arrived
on its coaft, fo diametrically oppofite to all the accounts
with which the mod intelligent perfons here were able to
furnifh the adminiflration. But, for all this, M. de la
Bourdennaye was on the point of being difgraced, when
he returned ; the company of the Indies was implacable,
the miniilers in general prejudiced, and the good-natured
cardinal De Fleury very four. M. De la Bourdennaye in-
fifted upon knowing the caufes of all this ill humour, and
refuted every charge fo clearly, that the company had no-
thing to fay -, the minifters were convinced, and the car-
dinal was fatisfied. In the courfe of his j unification, he
fhewed, that he was never poflefled in property of a foot
of land ; that he never traded for a fmgle livre ; and that
he had decided but one law-fuit all the time he was gover-
nor. He farther fhewed, that the inhabitants of the Ifle
of France were able to carry on a legal and beneficial com-
merce, in goods and manufadlures of their own, both to
the Indies and to Europe. It is now time to Hep over to
the other ifland of Bourbon, and fee in how ftrange a man-
ner that colony v/as originally formed, and what in procefs
of time have been the advantages gained thereto, and im-
provements made therein, by the companies to which it
belonged.
We have already given the reader fome account of the re- J^hat the
peated attempts made by the French to eftablifh a fettle- ^''^"^^^pro*
ment upon Madagafcar, or the Ifle of the Dauphin, as they fff^rfic^ffs
call it, of which they kept poileflion above one hundred from ejiab-
years, and to which they yet maintain a title. They had li/hing fet^
three principal points in view m attempting this fettle- tUments on
ment ° : the firft, was the fixing a powerful colony in a ';^^^^^/,
commodious place for carrying on the trade of the Indies, ^^^^
without which they judged it in a manner impofTible to
make any confiderable progrefs, knowing well that they
fliould be warmly oppofed by the European nations already
in pofleiTion of this commerce. In the next p4ace, they
conceived that a very profitable intercourfe might be car-
ried on with this ifland, which would be highly beneficial
to their navigation, augment the number of their feamen,
increafe their fhipping, and, in many other refpects, fa-
cilitate their fchemes for extending their trade ; and laftly,
they propofed, by making this eftablifhment the centre of
their commerce, to put it into fo good a condition as not
^ Difcours d'un Fidele Sujet du Roi, touchant rEtablifTement
d'une Compagnie Francoife pour le Commerce des Indes Ori-
jSiUiJLles.
only
«3^
TMr ex-
hahle, yet
pt9ve
jf defcrtp-
ticn of the
ifiand of
Ma [car en-
Conquejlsy Settlement Sy and Dlfcoverles of
only to anfwer all the ends of affording protection and re-
frefhment to all their outward and homeward bound Eall
India fhips, but farther flattered themfelves that the co-
lony might be rendered fo populous, and the towns and
fortrefles fo defenfible, as in cafe their fuccefs in the Indies
ihould provoke the maritime powers to endeavour their de-
ftruftion even by open force, they might find fuch a re-
fiftance here as would efFe£lually preferve that trade when
it fhould be acquired.
Thefe notions were indeed lofty and magnificent, worthy
of their authors Richlieu and Colbert, and, at the fame
time, they were far from being unnatural or imprafticablc.
The climate, though not fo hesilthy and pleafant as they
reprefent it, was however tolerable ; the foil wonderfully
fruitful ; there wanted not good ports \ all the neceiTaries
of life were to be had in abundance ; and, to fay nothing
of gold, iron, lead, of alJ which there are certainly mines
in that ifiand ; cotton, wax, fugar, black and white pep-
per, tobacco, indigo, ebony, and a great variety of other
valuable commodities might have made this place anfwer
not only all their expences in fettling it, but even their
moll fangulne expedlations. That it did not anfwer them
is very certain ; but that the defeft vsras not in the country,
but in themfelves, their beft writers agree. That the
fcheme they went upon was rational, and notfo only, but
abfolutely neceilary, time and experience have fince made
appear ; but they ftand indebted for the advantages they
now poflefs to chance, and accident p. For though they
have long ago abandoned Madagafcar, yet, as we have
feen, they are ftill poffefled of fome iflands near it, which
are of fome confequence, that without them it would be
very difficult for them to preferve what trade they have in
the Indies, as will hereafter appear, though in the ac-
counts they have given of this commerce, they have fcarce
mentioned, much lefs defcribed them.
The mofb remarkable of thefe is that anciently called
Mafcareigne, or more corre6lly, Pv^afcarenhas, from a
noble family of that name in Portugal ; but the French
have given it long ago the name of Bourbon : it lies in the
latitude of 21 ^cg. 23 min. fouth, and in the longitude of
76 d,tg. to the eall of Madagafcar, and at a fmall dillance
from the illand of Maurice, or, as it is now ftyled, of
France. "We have already hinted that they touched at,
and flightly examined it, even before they attempted Ma-*-
y Cauche, Flacourt, Rennefort, ^c,
dagafcar.
the French In the Eajl Indies. 237
dagafcar, "but in all probability were deterred from fettling
there, on the fcore of its wanting a port. The ifland of
Bourbon being in fome parts inacceflible, the length and
breadth have not been well determined, but the circum-
ference, as a perfon who refided there feveral months af-
fured usj may be fifty-feven leagues, or thereabouts ''. It
is for the moil part mountainous, but in fome places there
are very pleafant and beautiful plains. In the fouth part
of the ifland there is a burning mountain, which has
thrown out vaft quantities of bitumen, fulphur, and other
combuftible materials 5 neither does it ceafe throv/ing
them out flill, fo that the country about is uf^lefs, and is
called by the inhabitants Pays Brule, that is, Burnt Land.
The Ihore is high and rocky all round, fo' that there are ■
no ports 5 but there are feveral good roads, particularly one
on the weft, and another on the north-eall : as to its form,
it is irregular ^
As to the air, it is equally pleafant and wholefome, in- Its cUmate^
fomuch that people live there to a vaft age, without feeling ff^Hy and
either infirmities or difeafes. This is an excellent efFe(Si: P^^^*^^**
from a very troublefome caufe, by which we mean the
hurricane, a kind of ftorm too well known to be defcribed
here : of thefe they have one or two every year, which
purge and cleanfe the air fo as to render it highly falubri-
ous j the certainty of which is thus diftinguifhed, that
when they fail of making their annual vifits, as fometimes
they do, the people are fickly, and death finds an entrance
into the ifland, which otherwife would be foon overftock-
ed '. The climate is hot, but not to fuch a degree as
might be expe£l:ed from its fituation j the breezes from
the mountains being conftant and very refrefhing : the
tops of thefe mountains are in the winter covered with
fnow, and thus melting in the fummer, furnifhes abun-
dance of rivers and rivulets, with which the country is
plentifully watered ; fo that the foil, though not very
deep, is wonderfully fruitful, producing Turkey-corn,
and rice twice a year, and the latter in vaft abundance.
Moft forts of cattle are found there good in their kind,
and very cheap : wild goats and wild hogs are found in the
woods, and on the tops of the mountains : vaft plenty
they have of wild fowl of different kinds: fifh too, in.
great abundance j and before the place was fo well inha-
bited, vaft quantities of land tortoife, aflx)rding at once the
«» Tour du Mond, par L. G. de la Barbinais, torn. iii. p. ti6.
r Rehtion de rifle de Bourbon, par DuBois. s Jcur du Mond,
parL. G. de la Barbinais, torn. iii. p. 117.
nioft
133 Conqueftsy Settlements, and Dlfcoveries of
mod delicate and ipoft wholefome food : as to fruits, they
have the guavas and bananas, oranges and citrons, tama-
rinds, and other kinds : neither does it want valuable com-
^ modities, particularly ebony, cotton, white pepper, gum
benjamin, aloes, and tobacco, all excellent in their kind,
when compared with thofe of other countries. It is alfo
happy in its deficiencies, for no venomous creature is to
be found therein, and but two that are difagreeable to the
fight 'y the one fpiders of the fize of a pigeon's egg, which
weave nets or webs of a prodigious ftrength, and fome
curious people have thought that thefe might be fo treated
as to become as valuable as filk ; the other, bats of a mod
enormous fize, which are not only fkinned and eaten, but
elleemed alfo the greateft delicacy that they have ; in
which opinion, when they can overcome their natural
averfion, fo far as to tafte them, Europeans agree ^ Such
is the ifland of Bourbon in itfelf j let us now fpeak of its
inhabitants.
At*what When the French firft fettled in Madagafcar, the ifland
time the Mafcarenhas was abfolutely defolate j three Frenchmen
French firji being banifhed thither and left in it for three years, made
t^ople '^* ^^^^^ "^ report of it at their return as furprifed their coun-
ihither trymen : they lived moll of that time upon pork, and
from Ma- though they were in a manner naked, yet they affirmed
dagafcar. that they never had the leafl pain or ficknefs whatever.
This account tempted one Anthony Taureaa to go thither
in T654, accompanied by feven French and fix Negroes,
and they carried cattle, with which the country has been
Hocked ever fince. The firfl thing they did was to ere£l
the arms of France by order of Mr. Flacourt, who was go-
vernor of Madagafcar, and to beftow upon the ifland a
new name ; they then fet up huts, and laid out gardens,
w^here they cultivated melons, all forts of roots and to-
bacco *, but juft as the lad mentioned herb grew ripe, came
a hurricane, and deftroyed all. The French, howeveif,
went to work again, and, by having fome acquaintance
with the climate, fucceeded better, and added aloes to the
reft of their plantation ; but receiving no fuccour from
^ » Madagafcar, and being tired of living there by themfelves,
they very readily embraced the offer made them by the
captain of an Englifh fiiip, and in the year 1658 embark-
ed for Madrafs ; fo there ended the firft colony. When
the laft great blow was given to the French at Madagafcar
t Hiftoire de la grand Ifle de Madagafcar, par MonfieurFlacour,
p. 431. Relation dc i'llie de Bourbon, par du Bois,
by
the French in the Eafi Indies. ^j9
by the natives, who, provoked chiefly by their gallantries,
fufprifed Fort Dauphine, and cut them ofF in one night,
as many people, with their wives, who were natives, el-
caped, as filled two canoes : thgfe being driven by the
wind on the iiland of Bourbon, were the next fet of people
that inhabited it ; and for want of an opportunity to re-
move, were conftrained to cultivate this new country, and
to remain in it : neither was this any great hardfliip, con-
iideVing the evil from which they efcaped, and the peace
and plenty they might have found here in return for a
very fmall expence of labour and induftry ".
It was not long before they acquired a farther ftock of Ho-wa
inhabitants ; for a pirate that had been committing depre- «^w «»^-
dations in the Indies, returning to Europe, ran afliore, and ^^"'^''"'^
\viL5 fplit to pieces upon the rocks, fo that the crew were aJi"llme'
forced to join themfelves to the former inhabitants, and as into this
they had on board their veflel a great many Indian wo- ijlan^-,
men they had made prifoners, they lived with them, and
in procefs of time had a numerous pofterity. As Eail
India fhips touched here frequently when they were too
late to double the Cape, many of the Tailors for the fake of
the women, deferted at the time of their departure,- and,
flaying behind, became planters in the ifland of Bourbon.
As the place grew more populous, the people naturally
became more civilized, and defirous of living in a more
commodious manner. They therefore began to build
fmall veffels, that in thefe they might make a trip fome-
times to Madagafcar, and purchafe fiaves, which they
employed in their plantations, to cultivate aloes, tobacco,
and other things, with which they drove a fmall trade,
when {hips of any nation anchored in their roads for the
fake of refrefjiments ^4 In this fituation things were when
the Eaft India company of France put in their claim, and
a'fiuming the property of the ifland, fent thither five or fix
families and a governor. At firft, no doubt, the inhabit-
ants expected to reap fome benefit from their new maflers j
but finding very little, and thinking the governor took too
much upon him, they revolted at the inftfgation of a prieft,
feized their governor, clapped him into a dungeon, and
kept him there till hunger and forrow made an end of him.
For this fome of the ringleaders were afterwards punifhed,
a kind of fort was eredled, in which fome guns were
"Tour du Moude, par L. G. de la Barbinais, torn. iii. p. 121.
w Relation de Tlfie de Bourbon, par Du Bois. Tcyr du Mond, pac
J.. G. De. Barbinais, torn. iii. p. xza.
- , placed^
240
Conqueftsy Settlements^ and Bifcoveries of
e'ven oppo
file com--
plexions*
placed, and the French flag kept flying ; but in other re*
fpefts, fo little care was taken, that till within thefe thirty-
years the ifland was in no Itate of defence, exclufive of the
number of inhabitants, and the advantages of its fituation,
which we have before defcribed ^.
How the The number of inhabitants in the year 171 7 was com-
inhabitants puted at two thoufand, nine hundred free, and eleven hun-
^'^'mfoVf ^^^^ ^^^^^* Amongft thefe people the ufual diftindion of
^ fuch'va- whites and blacks entirely fails, for even the free are of
riQust and different colours ; and a French writer affures us, that he
faw in a church one family confifbing of five generations
of all complexions : the eldeft was a female, one hundred
and eight years of age, of a brown black, like the Indians
at Madagafcar ; her daughter a mulatto, her grand-
daughter a meflizo, her great-grand-daughter of a dufky
yellow, her daughter again of an olive, and the daughter
of this laft as fair as any EngUfh girl of the fame' age y.
Thefe people are, generally fpeaking, of a gentle, quiet
difpofition, very induftrious, and fubmiflive enough to au-
thority, provided it be exercifed with a tolerable degree of
equity and decency ; for otherwife they are apt to rife one
and all j and the flaves have fo little reafon to complain of
their mailers, that they are always on the fame fide. The
ifland is divided into four quarters ; the firfl is that of St.
Paul, the largeft and beft peopled, their houfes built at the
bottom of a fleep mountain on both fides of a frefh water
lake. As for the plantations, they are on the top of a
mountain, which they afcend by a very rough andtrouble-
fome pafTage. On the fummit there is a fpacious plain,
great part of which is divided into plantations of rice, to-
bacco, corn, fugar, and fruits. The quarter of St. Denis
lies feven leagues from that of St. Paul, towards the eaft,
and there the governor refides : it is not fo much peopled,
but the country is pleafanter and better fituated. At two
leagues diftance, proceeding along the fea-coafl, is the
quarter of St. Mary's, which is but thinly peopled. The
laft and moft fertile quarter is that of St. Sufannah, which
is at the diftance of four leagues from St. Denis ; and the
road between thefe two quarters is tolerable, though part
of it has been cut with much difficulty through a wood \
but the pafTage from St. Denis to St. Paul is only by fca *.
X Hlftoire de la CompagnJe des Indes, p. 581. Tour du Mond,
par L. G. De Baibinais, torn, iii p. i39« Relation de I'lfle du
Bourbon, par Du Bois.
binais, torn, iii p. 12:4, 125.
par Du Buis*
y Tour du xMond, par L. G. de Bar-
2 Kelalion de rids de Bourbon,
\Xnien
I
the French in the Eajl Indies. 24 1
When the prefent company of the Indies became, in oflate
right of the edi6t for their perpetual eftablifhment, mailers years due
of this ifland, they foon difcerned what vail advantages attention
might be drawn from it, as well as how ftrangely it had ^^^{^^^"
been negle6led* In confequence of this difcovery, they ^i^porlant^
have improved it exceedingly, raifed new forts and bat- ijiand.
teries, which render it in a manner inaccelFible ; and
havealfo fettled in the moft efFeclual manner, feveral of
the adjacent iflands, which are well fupplied with cannon,
military and naval (lores, and whatever elfe is neceflary
for the defence of the inhabitants. There is no doubt that
thefe muft have cofl confiderable funis of money, but the
company of the Indies have no reaforl to complain of that,
fince the ifland produces annually more than all they have
laid out can amount to>; fince they bring from thence one
year with another coffee to the value of one hundred thou*
fand pounds *.
It is no eafy matter to come at the knowlege when this '^^ wtro--
improvement was firfl made, or,. indeed, how it came to ^"^<'^V
be made at all ; on one fide we are alfured, that the coffee ^^^^^'
plant was carried to the ifle of Bourbon from the country
of Yeman, in Arabiaj which is the true coffee country, in
the year 17 18, and the very perfon is named who carried
it thither ^. On the other hand, an ollicer who vifited
the ifle of Bourbon in 1717, and who wrote an account
of what he found remarkable there the very fame year,
afTures us, that Mr. Para, who was then governor of the
ifland, was a6lually in France, and that his errand thither
was to inform the Eafl India company that the coffee-plant
had been found growing naturally in feveral places of the
ifland ^. Thefe accounts may be reconciled thus : the
plant brought from Mocha to the ifle of Bourbon, might
be with a view to compare it with the coffee faid to grow
there naturally ; but however that might be, the cultiva-
tion of this plant now is become the principal bnfinef^^f the
inhabitants of the ifle of Bourbon, and it is believed that
they produce an eighth, fome fay a fixth part as much
coffee, as is raifed in the kingdom of Yeman, and it is
likewife held next in goodnefs to that. The diligent en-
deavour of the French company of the Indies to flrengthen
and improve the fettlements in the iflands, for that is the
term ufed in France, has not only anfwered all the pur-
a Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, par Guyon, tom. iii. p. 379,
3?o. •» Memoire fur rOrigine & Ufage du Caffe. c Tour
du Monde, par L, G. de Barbinais, torn. iii. p. 135, J 36.
Mod. Vol. IX. R pofes
142 Conquefts, Settkments^ and Difcovertes of
pofes that they could pofllbly expe6l from it, but has like-
wife fully demonftrated that the principles laid down by
Richlieu and Colbert were perfe£lly juft, and that no-
thing could have fo effeftually contributed towards the
acquiring a fliare in the Eaft India commerce for the French,
nation, as the making a confiderable eflabliihment on the
ifland of Madagafcar, and that the fault lay only in thofe
who undertook the execution of it.
Admiral It was therefore very judicioully advifed, when admiral
Bofcawen's gofcawen failed with the combined fleet of the maritime
txpedmiiti. powers for the Indies, to ftrike the firft blow here. If
that coul<l have been done, there is no doubt that the ex-
pedition, in its event, would have been as profperous as
it was prudent in its contrivance ; but alas ! when he
arrived, he found the iflands of Bourbon and France quite
other things than they had been reprefented by fuch as
had vifited them fome years before. The whole coaft of
the lile of France was a continued breaft-work, a prodi-
gious artillery was provide;d for his reception, and as there
were no ports capable of receiving his fhips, and no pofli-
bility of landing men in open boats, to attack fortifications
lined with numbers of people, expert in the ufe of fire-
arms, and well fupplied, he was obliged, after fome can-
nonading to very little purpofe, to purfue his voyage.
This mifcarriage of the Englifh admiral likewife gave the
French an opportunity of fending a great fupply from
thefe iflands, of men, artillery, ammunition, provifions,
and money, to Pondicherry, which made the reduction of
that place likev^'ife imprafticable. Thefe are facts in which
boih our accounts and cheir's very fully agree; fo that there
can be nothing plainer than that thefe iflands are of the
utmoil confequence to the French, and that the fuccefs of
their Eaft India commerce muit depend upon their remain-
ing in a profperous and thriving, condition. Neither is it
at ail impolTible, that, by degrees, they may open a com-
merce to all parts of the Indies, direftly from thefe iflands,
which are certainly as well fituated for that purpofe as can
be wifhed. By a proper attention to the feafons, voyages
may be made with great facility and fafety from them to
the Perfian and Arabian Gulfs, and even to the ftrelghts
of Sunda and China, without the neceflity of touching at
any port in the Indies, and returns might be made thither
in the like manner ^, But it is now time to quit this
A Hiftoire de grand Ifle tie Madagafcar, par Monf. Flacort, p.
44, 54, 66.
eftablilhment.
the Trench in the Eafi Indies. 243
eftablifhment, which is not properly in, but near the In-
dies, and to proceed next to thofe in the Arabian and
Peril an Gulfs, which, ftriftly and accurately fpeaking,
are not in the Indies either, and yet as the trade carried
on from them produces nothing that is not carried home
to Europe on board the Eaft India fliips, they are gene-
rally, and with propriety enough, reputed a part of the
Indies, amongft all the nations that carry on any trade
thither, and as fuch are included in the charters of all the .
companies that have been any where fettled for the ma-
nagement of that commerce*
SECT. IX.
An Hijlorical Account of the French Commerce at Mocha^
Bajfora^ Surat^ on the Coaji of Malabar and Coro-
mandel; their Acquifitions in Point of 'Territory^
through the Arts and Addrefs of their Governors ; the
State of Pondicherry refkmed*
'Tp H E French company in the Indies eftablifhed a fac- The French
tory at Mocha, on the coaft of Arabia, in 1720, for faSIory at
the fake of carrying on the coffee trade, which, about Mocha.
that time, became more confiderable than ever, and this
they have kept up ever fince ^ The other European na-
tions have their fa£lories alfo ; but befides the particular
concerns of their refpe6live factories, thofe who are en-
trufted with the management of this trade, are obliged
not only to live upon good terms, but alfo to concert
meafures together, that they may all purchafe coffee at
the fame price, and not raife its value by bidding upon
each other, a cafe which has fometimes happened, when
this commodity was fcarce, to the no fmall advantage of
the natives, and prejudice of the Europeans ^ The va-
luable article of coffee was, in a great meafure, taken
from the Eaft India company before the edift of union^
by which it was reftored to the perpetual company of the
Indies, and the duty with which it was charged, of ten -
French pence per pound, was valued at a very moderate
fum, upon payment of which annually, coffee paffed
every where through France freely, and without any duty }
but in 1736, the farmers-general of the revenue reprefent-
e IMionaire de Commerce, torn. i. col, 653, f Memoire
fur r OFigine et Ufage du Caffe.
R 2 ing
244 Conquejls^ Settlements^ and Difcoverles of
ing this as a great hardfhip upon them to the miniftrjr^
the compofitioii was declared void, and the duty has been
ever fince paid ^ but, by way of indemnification, the fum
of fifty thoufand livres is paid annually, out of the treafury^
to the company of the Indies s. We have mentioned this
circumftance particularly, to fhew that there is nothing
ftable in France; and that, notwithftanding the folem-
nity of edi6i:s, and occafional favours and indulgencies, in
order to raife a new, or to revive a declining commerce,
the revenue will, fooner or later, obtain a preference v
and as the government really does all, fo, under one pre-
tence or other, it will never fail to avail itfelf of all that is
done by the French in the commerce of the Indies.
By *what In refpe£l; to the commerce of the Perfian Gulf, no
means the pains have been fpared by the French miniftry to do every
^''^A/TS ^ thing that was poflible for promoting the commerce of the
arepular company. As a proof of this attention, it may be fuffi-
eorre/pon- cient to give one inftance. The count de Maurepas,
dencetnthe while the affairs of trade and the marine were under his
Perfian ^are, made choice of one M, Otter, a Swedifh gentle-
■'* man, of calm but determined courage, and of great capa-
city, who had an inclination to vifit the Eaft, and to per-
fe£l himfelf in the know lege of the Oriental tongues, to
be the inltrument of promoting a correfpondence between
the French in the Indies and the fubje^is of Perfia and of
the Grand Signior"^". This gentleman being furniflied
with proper inftruftions, fet out from Paris in 1734, and
after remaining fome time at Conftantinople, profecuted
his journey to the court of Perfia, notvv^ithftanding the
troubles that were then in both empires *, by which,
though he travelled in the train of a Perfian ambaflador,
yet he found his life in imminent peril almoft in every
day's journey. He was able to do Httle with the fhah,
whofe afl^airs were fo embarrafled, that how much foever
he might be inclined thereto, yet he could give but very
little attention to matters of this nature. M. Otter,
therefore, returned into the dominions of the Grand Sig-
nior, and, according to the inilruftions that he had re-
. ceived, neglecled nothing that could procure him an in-
tereft with Achmet, bafliaw of Bagdat, or Babylon, who
afted rather as an independent prince than as a fubje6l
of the Porte, and who had forced the Grand Signior to
g Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, par Guyon, torn. iii. p. 429.
b Elo^e de M. Otter, ^
put
the French in the Eajt Indies, 245
pat the important city of Balfora again into his hands,
after it had been wrefted from him 'K
It was this city, which Hands upon the famous canal M. Otter
formed from the waters of the rivers Tygris and Euphrates, "/^''^V
that was the great objeft of the French views. The Eng- ff/j*^fl^^
lifh and Dutch had both confuls there; and the former py^^^^;yl
had the liberty of difplaying his flag, a privilege which foaful, w
the latter had not been able to obtain, though he had '^^^ #^'
offered no lefs than twenty thoufand crowns for that fa- ^' £^#"'^-
vour. M. Otter went to this city towards the clofe of
the year 1741, and foon after a French (hip arrived from
the bay of Bengal, with a perfon on board who had the
character of conful from tlie company of the Indies. This
perfon, though a man of parts and experience, thought
his own reception in that quality a thing fo little likely to
take effect, that he intimated to M. Ott^r his intention
to return, in cafe any difputes (hould be made about it.
But the intereft of the latter was fo powerful with the
bafhaw of Bagdat, that he procured the neccfTary inftru-
ments for eftablifhing the French confulate, with the ho*
Hour of the flag, not only to the furprize of the other Eu»
ropeans, but alfo of the bafliaw's governor in that city,
who had not the leaft intelligence of the negociation, till
he had received his mafter^s orders. This conful dying,
M. Otter himfelf, in the month of Auguft, 1742, was
appointed, by the company, to fucceed him, and execut-
ed this office till the year following, that he returned to
France, foon after which he died ^,
The eftablifhment of this confulfhip was a thing not Th great
only highly honourable, but very ferviceable alfo, to the ad^van-
company of the Indies, on account of the great traffick ^f.^^^/V'
carried on there, and the large demand which there is J^]^/^^^?
for almoft all forts of Indian commodities, which paflied j„ rejpe3 *
from thence by land, by the way of Bagdat, to Aleppo, to their
The rich goods and manufactures taken in exchange, are commerce
Ihipped on board the company's vefiels, which, according ^ '^^ ^""
as the dire6lor-general in the Indies thinks expedient, are
either tranfported from thence to the iflands, and at the
proper feafon, to Europe, or return into the Indies. This
trade, carried on either way, is extremely profitable, ef-
pecially in times of peace ;, and a^ it rarely happens that
things are in confufion in the Indies, and iti the grand figni-
cr's dominions, at the fame time, fo, with proper attentioni
i Voyage en Tnrquie et en Perfe, par Monf. Otter, torn. ii.
€hap, 7, k Eloge de M. Otter.
R 3 * ^ market
246 Conquefisy Settlement s^ and Difcoveries of
a market is commonly found for both cargoes, without
bringing any part home to Europe ; and the more there is
of this fort of intercourfe, the greater gains accrue to
the company, and the better returns they are able to make
of thofe goods that are moft in demand in Europe : but
it requires very great talents in thofe who are intrufted
with the management of things at thefe ports, and at Baf-
fora in particular ; becaufe, exclufive of their ordinary
fundions, they are frequently put to very great dilhcul^
ties, by the bafliaws, and other officers of the Porte, who
are continually watching for an opportunity to plunder
or opprefs them '. Againft this peculation, the belt fecu-
rjty is a good underftanding with the other European na-
tions, who, if they a£l in concert, are generally fure to
get the better, whereas want of union becomes prejudi-
cial to them all in their turns ; and yet, through national
prejudices, incompatibility of interefts, or perfonal jea-
loufies, this fo rational and neceflary harmony is very
rarely of any long continuance '".
What dif' ^^ ^s ^^^ almoft a century fi nee the French efta-
ferent for- hlifhed themfelves firil at Surat, where they have only a
tunes ha'ue lodge, or fa61:ory, in the fame manner as the Englifli and
attended Putch, for v/hich they pay an annual rent to the Mogul ;
ton at ' ^"^ '^^ ^^ ^^^y ftrong ngtwithftanding, and fo well provided
Surat from with every thing for its defence, as to be in no danger of
its founda" being eafily furprifed. Whatever methods they took, cer-
^f^??< tain it isj ^that the French, for many years, were highly
confidered by the great monarch of the Indies *, but, upon
the declenfion of their affairs, and through the great debts
they contra£led with the Indian merchants, this was, in a
great me^fure, loft ; and, a little before the eftablifnment
of the perpetual company of the Indies, they were fallen
fo lov/, as to be in danger of having their lodge feized,
and thofe who were in the company's fervice imprifoned,
for the debts they had contra£l;ed. This fcore, however,
has been gradually wiped off, and the French have recOf
vered their credit again, not only with the merchants,
but with the minifters and generals of the Mogul, with
. whom they have commonly a clofer underftanding than
^ny other European nations, for reafons with which we
{hall acquaint the reader hereafter. Their trade, how-
ever, is nothing near fo confiderable in this city as that
of the Englifh and the Dutch ; becaufe, as they have not
i Diflionaire de Commerce, torn. iv. col. 71s. »" Hamilton's
Account of the Eaft Indies, tomt i. p. 81,
fo
the French in the Eajl Indies* 247 .
fo many fettlements in dillant parts of the Indies, they
cannot have that variety of commodities which is necef-
fary to drive a great traffic. Surat has been ever fince
the Portuguefe loft their povi^er, the principal magazine
of all oriental riches, as M^ell as the commodities and ma-
nufactures of Europe, which are circulated from thence
through the whole extent of the Mogul's dominions ".
But, if no new revolutions happen in their affairs, there
is little reafon to doubt, that they will continue to mend
here as well as in other places 5 fo that, in time, they
will have a fhare in that, as well as other branches of
commerce. At prefent they fend no fhips from hence di-
r.e£l:ly, as in the time of the former Eall India company,
v/ho, as the reader has already feen, transferred their
chief refidence thither from Madagafcar ; which was one
of the firft falfe fteps they made, and which has been
fince repaired, by transferring it to Pondicherry, from
whence, and from their fettlements in the bay of Bengal,
all their returns are now regularly made 5 and it is from
the firft of thefe places that a correfpondence is efta-
blifhed with Surat, in which feveral ihips are employed
yearly ".
Upon the coaft of Malabar, the French fifft fettled a Commerce
faftory at Mirzeou, which lies about eighteen leagues ^ '^^
fouth of Go a, between the kingdoms of Vifapour and ihe^coafl^of
Caniira, fo that to which of the two it properly belongs Malabar^
is doubtful. They afterwards removed to Rajapour, Mnd their
which has been confidered as a wrong ftep, of which ■>^^''^ ^^ '^'
the Dutch took advantage, and drew the pepper trade in f'^Pi'J''
:that neighbourhood to themfelves p^ T^^Y ^^^ ^^^ fome
other faffcories upon the fame coaft, and have ftill a
confiderable trade there ; but the memoirs we have of
the company of the Indies do not furnifti us with light-
fufficient to be fo precife in this matter as we could wilh. ' '
AH we can affirm with certainty is, that a large quantity
cf pepper is a conftant article in their fales ; which is
a proof fufficient of their being in pofleffion of a fcon-
fiderable commerce upon this coaft, though, for the rea^
fons before mentioned, we cannot enter into ih^ particu-
lars ^. We will therefore pafs on to the coaft of Coroman-
dcl, upon which the French have the only confiderable
» Hiftoire des Indes Odentales, torn. \\. p. 43^46. © Dic-
tionaire de Commerce, torn. iv. col. 765, 766. p Di£^ionaire
ae Commerce, torn. ii. col. 780. 'J Hiltoiie des Indes Orientales,
par Guyon, torn. iii. p. 380--383, 384.
R 4 |)lac'?& •
248
of Karical
on the loaji
of Ccro-
mandeL
foffeffedby
them in
^o'veregn-
ty.
ConqueJIs, Settlements f and Difcoveries of
places of which they ftand pofleiTed in the Indies, and
which have been very much augmented, fmce their affairs
have been under the management of the new company,
and thereby fo intimately conne6t:ed with the government,
as to be always confidered as under the direction of the
miniftry.
The firft of thefe is Karical, fituated in 10 deg. 35
min. of north latitude, and in the longitude of 78 deg.
from the meridian of Paris, lying four leagues north
from the Dutch fettlement at Negapatan, two leagues
fouth from the Danifh fettlement at Tranquebar, and
twenty-five leagues fouth from Pondicherry. This terri-
tory, .v/hich they poiTcfs in full fovereignty, confifts of the
town before mentioned, which ftands upon the river
Colran, which, however, is not navigable but for very
fmall vefiels *, the fortrefs of Karcangery, at the mouth
of the river ; upon the fea-coaft nine or ten villages ; and
a tra^t'of country fifteen or fixteen miles in extent, very
fertile in rice, and producing alfo cotton and indigo, in-
habited by ten or twelve thousand people, who fubfift by
making piece-goods of feveral kinds, and from whom
the French draw a yearly rent of ten thoufand pagodas,
which is about four thoufand five hundred pounds fter-
ling ^ The French writers boafted, and it may be with
truth, that none of the European nations fettled upon
the coafh were in pofleffion of fo large a tra6l of country ;
and therefore the reader may reafonably expecSl, that we
ihquld acquaint him how it came into their hands (U).
Thp
r Hifloire des Indes Orientales, torn. iii. p. ayi.
(U) The fituation, or even
the name, of the town of Kari-
pHJ, feldom occurs; in any of
the common maps of India,
which makes it neceflary to
fpeak of it more particularly.
At the time the French became
pofleffed of it, there were in it
fix hundred thirty-eight houfes
of ftone and brick, 'exclufive
of meaner ftru6tures, compre-
hending alfoffive mofques, five
large pagods, nine of a lefTer
lize, and upwards of five thou-
fand inhabitants. It ftands upon
a large navigable ftream which
will admit Indian veiTels of two
hundred tons burden and up-
wards. In fome maps this is
fi-yled the River of Karical, but
in the beil, it is made no more
than a branch of the Coloran,
or Colran. The fortrefs of Kar-
cangery is feated above half a
mile from thefea, and is about
a cannon-fliot diilant from the
town before mentioned. It was
formerly defended by eight
large towers, but a great part
is demolilhed by its new mai^-
ters. Trionmale Rayen Pa-
tuam, after the capital, is the
largell
the French in the Eaft Indies. 249
The kingdom of Tanjour comprehends the fouth-eaft upojj the
part of the extremity of the peninfula without the Ganges; depofitionof
and the monarch of this country dying in 1 738, left his ^he king of
dominions to his nephew Sahagy, who was foon difpof- '^^"P'^^y"^
felied of them by a natural ion of his predecefTor ; upon ponduher^
which he fled to the French for refuge, and was kindly ry^andde*
received by the fieur Dumas, who was at that time gover- tnands fuc-
nor of Pondicherry. In order to obtain fuccours for the ^°^^L ^^^^
recovery of his kingdom, he made a voluntary ceffion to ^ ^^^
the French of the territory before mentioned, in the
month of July the fame year, and two of the company's
fhips were fent to take pofleffion of the places yielded
to them, and to furnifh the king's fubjefts who fhould
take up arms for him, with the fuccours that had been
promifed him. In the mean time, Sahagy underftanding
that thofe who had fet his competitor upon the throne,
began to be diffatisfied with him, made them fecretly fuch
offers, as iiiduced them to feize him, and proclaim their
old mailer ; who returned to Tanjour, and was received
with univerfal acclamations ; and having got the ufurper
into his hands, ordered him to be immediately cut into
four quarters ^
The next ftep he took, was to fend a detachment of Whot in
between four and five thoufand men, to prevent the French 'virtue of
from getting pofreiFion of the places he had given them : ^ ^°!^"^'^
^1-11 n • 1T1 11 fion, become
upon which the two Imps were obliged to return back ^^ poffeffed of
Pondicherry. Sahagy, however, pretended that, at a con- thiidijiria,
venient time, he would fulfil his treaty, but that, being •which ht
engaged in a war with the nabob Sander Saheb, the ^-^'^'j
Mogul's general in the adjacent provinces, it was not '^^L;;.^
convenient for him to do it then. Sander Saheb having
notice of this tranfadlion, and having received great civi-
lities from the fieur Dumas, offered him his afliftance ;
which being readily accepted, he fent a body of troops
Tupon the coaft, who made themfelves mafters of the
fortrefs by ftorm, and put it into the hands of the French,
February the I4tb, 1739 ^ The king of Tanjour was no
» Memoire particulier fur rAcquifition de Karical. ^ Hi-
ftoire dcs Indes Orientales, torn. iii. p. 267, 268, 269.
largeft and moil: conliderable hundred brick houfes, four
place in the whole diftrift. It mofques, four great pagods,
jiestothefouthofKarical,atthe twenty - eight fmaller, and
dittanceof about a league, and twenty-five places of accom-
a very fmall fpace from the Tea. modation for travellers (i ).
Jt is compoled of about five
^i) Memoire particulier fur T Acqnifition de Karical.
fooner
2 so Conqtiefts, Settlements, and Dlfcoverles of
fooner informed of this event, than he fent an agent of
his to the iieur Duinas, to acquaint him, that he need
not have had recourfe to this method, and to throw the
blame of what was paffed upon the Dutch. The better
to prove the reality of his profeflions, he fent by the
fame perfon two inftruments, dated April the 20th, 1739,
one of which contained a ratification of his former treaty,
and the other an order to the inhabitants of the dillridl:
he had yielded up, to acknowlege and obey the French
for the future as their fovereigns ". In a very ftiort time
followed a new revolution j for the uncles of Sahagy,
difliking his condudl, depofed, and caufed him to be
llrangled in a bath of warm milkj and fet upon the throne
one of his coufms, whofe name was Rajah Singue. This
new prince, not knowing how foon he might have occa-
fion for their affiftance, not only ratified his predeceflbr's
treaty with the French, but alfo added fome farther con-
ceffions, advifed the fieur Dumas to fortify the places
he had given him, and had an interview with him there, in
• the beginning of the year 1741 : ever fince which, the
French have continued in quiet and peaceable poileflion ^*
Uf0ary of The next fettlemeiit on the coaft of Coromandel is that
Pmdt- Qf Pondicherry, which having already defcribed, we ihall
/^jrrS ^'^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ °"^y fome particulars that have happened fince
•aaitk the the erecting of the company of the Indies. In the year
detaiUf 1736, which was the fecond year the Sieur Dumas had
favours poflefled the government, he obtained from the Mogul,
fhTcfea? ^^^oi^et Shah, the fame who was depofed by Kouli Khan,
MuguL ^^^ privilege of coining money, that is, of llriking ru-
pees, with the ityle of that monarch on one fide, and the
name of the place on the other y. The rupee is a coin of
the value of forty-eight French pence, which makes be-
tween two and three {hillings of our money. Of thefe
the governor coined five or fix millions every year ; and,
as thefe were of the Mogurs ftandard, the company gain-
ed by that means about four hundred thoufand livres an-
nually, by the coinage ; which was a very confiderable ar-
ticle, and fliews with how great addrefs the French aft,
in procuring funds for the fupport of their cftablifhments,
in the very country where they are made, and at the ex-
pence of thofe amonjTjfl whom they inhabit (X).
SECT.
w Memoireparticulier fur I'Acquifition de Karical. x Hi-
ftoire des Indcs Orientales, torn. iii. p. t.-ji. y Archives de
la Compagnie des Indes, n. 161. chap. 83. Hv. i. ^
(X) This articlei of coinage, quence, deferves a more parti-
as a matter of great conie- cular explanation. They coin
at
the French in the Eajl Indies.
25t
SECT.
X.
The Hijlo^yofthe Rife of the Indian War', the ConduEl
of Mr. Du Pleix in that Refpetl,
A T the time that Kouli Khan dethroned the Great Mo- Rife of the
•^ gul, and made him prifoner in his own capital, the luar in the
viceroys of that unfortunate monarch, though they would ^"f.^i',
not draw a fword, or ftir a ftep, in his favour, were llrong "^r^^^ceT
enough to think of conquering countries from the Indian extraordi-
princes, with intent to ereft them into principalities for nary confe-
quences tn
are fix and thirty to the pago- ^'^fP^^ ^°
da, and fometimes more. CaOi ^^"^ ^°^'
is a kind of copper coin, of ^ •^*
which there go about fourfcore
to a fanham ; but, in keeping
accounts, they make ufe of
imaginary ca(h, that are fup-
at Pondicherry both gold and
lilver, and of all the denomina-
tions current in the dominions
of the Great Mogul. Ofthefe
the pagoda is of gold, and of
an odd figure, refembling a
button, with fome grains on
the flat part, and the form of pofed to be lixty to the fan-
an idol on the convex furface,
from whence it receives its
name ; in weight they are 2
dwt. 4 gr. 27^^ mt. and the gold
fo fine, that they are generally
edeemed worth nine (hillings
of our money^ The roupie,
as the French write it, roupee,
or rupee, as it is fpelt in our
authors, is a filver coin, fome-
thing broader than one of our
ihlllings, and much thicker;
in point of finenefs it is better
than the Englifli ftandard.
Three hundred twenty-fix ru-
pees are equal to one hundred
pagodas, both being of proper
finenefs and weight. Fanons,
or, as our authors flyle them,
fanhams, are final I pieces of
filver, which, the French writ-
ers, fay, are accounted twenty-
four to the pagoda, and feven
and a half to the rupee ; ac-
cording to our writers, there
ham, to prevent confufion.
Our own nation at Fort St.
George had the like privilege,
and gained the fame advan-
tage*, the coin being of the
fame finenefs, and bearing the
fame infcriptions ; viz. on one
fide of the rupee,y//c/i? a year of
the glorious reign of Mahommed
Shah'j and on the other, this
rupee ivas coined at Arcatte^
both efl:abli{hments being under
the jurifdidion of the nabob of
that province ; but, for the fake
of dillin6tion, there is a half-
moon on that of Pondicherry,
and a ftar on the Madrafs ru-
pees (i). The profit of the
Englifli coinage was computed
at an half per cent, for gold,
and two per cent, for filver,
and was thought to produce
about one thoufand pagodas q.
month (z).
(0 Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, torn. iit.
yer's Account of the Trade in India, p. 29.
p. 260.
(2) Lock-
themfelves
u,^i Conquefisy Settlements^ and Difcoveries of
themfelves and their children. Daouft Aly Khan, nabob
of Arcatte, a province upon which both the French fet-
tlement at Pondicherry and the Englifh at Madrafs depend,
was of the number of thefe ambitious viceroys : in order
to carry his defigns into execution, he aflembled an army
of between fifty and fixty thoufand men, with which he
reduced feveral Indian princes, and pulhed his conquefts
to the other fide of the peninfula, with a view of reducing
feveral diftri6ls on the coafl of Malabar ^ The Indian •
princes, in this diftrefs, applied themfelves for afliilance
to the king of the Maractes, a potent, numerous, and
warlike nation, inhabiting the country to the fouth-eaft of
the mountains behind Goa, upon the coafl: of Malabar.
That king, who was perfuaded by his priefts to confider
this as a religious war made by the Mahometans, with an
intent to extirpate the Gentiles, ordered his fon to march
with an army of fixty thoufand horfe, and one hundred
thoufand foot, to the relief of the diitreiTed princes of his
own religion. He took the field in the month of October,
1739, and that young hero, before the clofe of the year,
attacked and defeated the army of the nabob, who was
himfelf killed on the fpot. His fon and fon-in-law were
at a dlftance, each at the head of a fmall army, his widow^
with the reft of the family, and all his riches, were ob-
liged to take refuge at Pondicherry, and to demand the
prote6lion of the Sieur Dumas, who, with the advice of
his council, received her and all her retinue, into the place,
to which alfo multitudes of people repaired, from all the
adjacent countries \
Thenvidoio The prince of the Marattes did not fail to demand them,
And family with all their eiFects, and a vaft fum of money befides,
of the mo- £j.qj^ ^j^g governor of Pondicherry, which place he threat-
r"cer'veci ^^ed to befiege. Though the French highly magnify the
intoPondi' courage of Dumas, in prefumingto defend himfelf againft
cherry, and fy^}^ ^ force, yet if we confider that he was in a place re-
^I^lfJa'^hf gu^^^^y fortified, well fupplied with provifions, with a
garrifon of between fix and {cstn thoufand men, and be-
tween four or five hundred pieces of cannon mounted, we
cannot coqceive that he v/as in any great danger of being
diftrefied. The Marattes continued in the field all the
year 1740, and till the month of April, 1741 j and, hay-
ing plundered every place within their reach, and tried,
^ Ardiives de la Compagnie des Indes, n. 161. c. S3. 1. i. f 3.
avec un Memoue particuHer. a Hiftoire des Indes Oii-
entales, toqi. iii. p. zSi, 282, 2 83»
without
a^ainji the
Marattes
the French in the Eajl Indies. 253
without fuccefs, what menaces would do with the gover-
nor of Pondicherry, they at lail accepted a fmall prefent
and retired. Thus ended this war, which flrongly recom-
mended the French to the favour of the Mogul and his
minifters, who thought they could never do enough to ex-
prefs their efteem for the Sieur Dumas, and their kindnefs
for the nation '^.
In the firft place Nizam El Mouk, prime minifter to the Compli-
Mogul, wrote the Sieur Dumas a very refpedtful letter of m«nts paid
thanks, with an ample acknowledgment of his fervices, (^ '"^^
and fent him alfo a veft of honour,, which is the ufual pre- ^^g^^g^
fent upon fuch occafions. Afterwards Pabder Aly Khan, n:irc/i of
the fon of the deceafed nabob, came in perfon to Pondi- Indofian,
cherry, as well to thank the governor as to comfort his mo- ^"^ ^'^ ^^-
ther. The Sieur Dumas received him with all poffible '"'^^^^^i'^^'^
marks of honour, and offered him very confiderable pre-
fents, as is the mode in the Eaft, of wliich he received
only a pair of gilt veflels for holding rofe-water, and in re-
turn fent the governor a very fine elephant with rich trap-
pings. Some time after this vifit, as a more fignificant
mark of the fenfe he had of the refpect paid to hi3 family
in the time of their diftrefs, he made a ceffion to the Sieur
Dumas pdrfonally of three diflricts in the neighbourhood
of Pondicherry, of the value in the whole of above one
thoufand pounds flerling, per annum ; a year after he fent
the Sieur Dumas all the armour of the deceafed nabob his
father, richly adorned with gold and precious ftones ^
The Mogul, having been informed of the ceffion made by
the nabob in favour of the French governor, was fo far
from being difpleafed thereat, that he confirmed it by his
letters patent, and at the fame time declared the Sieur
Dumas himfelf a nabob, and in that quality gave him the
command of four thoufand five hundred horfe. As all
thefe teflimonies of kindnefs were perfonal, the governor
exerted all his intereft that they might be attached and pafs
to his fucceflbr, which favour he obtained, in the month
of 0(£^ober, 1741, upon the arrival of his fuccelTor, M.
Du Pleix ; as foon as he had put him in pofleffion of the
French town and fortrefs, he declared him likewife the
Mogul's nabob, and caufed him to be acknowledged as
fuch by the body of four thoufand five hundred horfe,
of which he was to have the command, fo that he was
^^ Archives de la Corapagnie des Indes, num. 114. c. 88. Hv.
4- *= Hiftojre des Indes Orientales, par Gnyon, torn. iii# , ^
P' 34S, 349i 35=5.
as
254 Conquefts, Settlements^ and T>tf cover les of
as much eftablifhed in the rights of his Indian as his
French pofl '*.
Some Ihort time after M. Du Pleix had aiTumed the go-
vernment, he went to Bengal in order to be received there,
pmfuant to the orders of the Mogul, with the honours due
to his dignity, and, having put himfelf at the head of the
cavalry belonging to him, as nabob, he made his public en-
try, preceded by feveral flags difplayed, together with ket-
tle-drums of an enormous fize, trumpets, hautboys, and
other martial mufic, the Mogul's flandard and kettle-drums
being carried each upon an elephant. When the ceremony
was over, he went to pay the falaml, or falute of refpeil^
to the governor of Ougli, which the governor declined,
M. Du Pleix's poll, in the Mogul's fervice, being of a rank
much fuperior to his ^. As perfons of this dignity have
their flandards, flags, and muflc, polled at certain hours
before the place of their refidence, fo M. Du Pleix gave
orders for erecting fuch a one at the gate of Valdaour, which
is the principal entrance into Pondicherry. It is fcarcely
to be conceived how many and how great advantages at-
tend this connection, which the French governors of Pon-
dicherry have with the court of the Mogul ; which are al-
together extraordinary, nothing of the like nature having
of late been bellowed upon Europeans, of which there is
no doubt they will make all poffible advantages, as well by
' extending their territory, already become very confider-
^ able, as by procuring fuch grants and conceflions as may
be ufeful to their commerce ^.
SECT. XI.
Account of the remaining Tart of the French Commerce
in the Eaft Indies ; their Intercourfe with China ; the
Plan of their domejtic Management ; a View of the
grand E.ftablijhment at Port L! Orient,
Viajfiiudes 'TPHE famous city or town of Mafulipatan fituated on the
Attending X i^qu|-[i q{ {-j^g rivcr Crifna, which by its commodious
the French pQ^j- i^^g attracted all the European nations to fettle fa£lo-
fit Mafuli- ^^^^ therein, belonged formerly to the kings of Golconda,
fatan% 2S has been before mentioned, but is at prefent in the hands
£ Archives de la Compagnie des Indes Cotte, C. & D. e Hif-
toire des Indes Orientales, torn. ili. p. 306. -f Archives de
la Compagnie des Indes, Cotte D.
of
the French in the Eajl Indies, 255
of the Mogul. AVe have faid fo much already of this cele-
brated mart, juftly reputed the moft confiderable upon the
coaft of Coromandel, that we ihall confine ourfelves here
folely to what regards the French nation. Their trade
flourifhed exceedingly when firft fettled, but was dillurbed
by M. De la Hay's expedition, and his feizing the city of St.
Thomas, which produced a war with the king of Golcon-
da, by whom it was at laft retaken, by the afllftance of
the Dutch §. Their friendfhip on this occafion gave them
a vaft afcendancy in trade, and the French made after-
wards but a fmall figure till within thefe few years : but
the company is in good credit there at prefent, and has
her fhare in the great dealings that are carried Kin in almoft
all the commodities and manufactures of the Indies ; and
particularly in the fine cottons, which are fo much and fo
juftly efteemed preferable to all others. It is from hence
the Jefuits were fufpeiled to find their way to the diamond-
mines, of which commerce there are many extraordinary
ftories told, though not much to be depended upon ia
point of authenticity •*. Some of the French relations
fpeak of the heat here as intolerable, and equal to what is
felt at Gambroon, and add, that the overflowing of the ri-
vers in the rainy feafon rendered travelling impracSlicable,
their refidence there very uncomfortable, and the climate
very unwholefome ; but at the fame time they ought to
add, that, to thefe annual inundations the country of Gol-
conda derives a fertility equal to that which Egypt receives
from the fame caufe ^
Ougli, on the weft bank of the Ganges, at the diftance Commerce
of twenty leagues from the fea, is the great mart of the bay ^ ^"^,
of Bengal, and we may from hence form fome idea of the QupIi, and
vaft advantages which the dominions of the Mogul receive thrvugh tht
from the European commerce j fince this port belongs alfo country of
to that monarch, as well as Surat, which is almoft at the ^^^ MoguL
other end of the Indies. The French have a very flourifh-
ing fa6lory here, under the infpe61:!on of a dire6lor-ge-
nera!, and other officers, as at Pondicherry ; receive, ge-
nerally fpeaking, the fame number of fliips from Europe,
and make the like returns thither ''. It is from hence that
they drive a trade with Siam, Cambodia, Cochin-china,
and other countries fituated in the peninfula without the
Ganges^ which is, properly fpeaking, the country-trade.
? Hiftoire desIndesOrientales, torn. ii. p. 121. ^ Mif-
cellanea Curiofa, torn, iii, p. 238. * Hiftoiredes IndesOri-
cntaies, torn. ii. p. 121, k Didlionaire deiComraerce, torn,
ii. col. 798,
All
2^6 Conque/Is^ Settlements y and Difcovertes of
All forts of rich commodities and valuable manufaftures
are common here, and afford them an opportunity o£
making proper affortments for the cargoes of their home-
ward-bound fhips. The diamond mines of Soumelpour
are feated in the northern part of this kingdom, of a very
different kind from thofe of Golconda, which are dug out
of the earth ; whereas here they are found in the fand of
the river Goual, and that through its whole courfe from
the mountains down to Soumelpour, that is, for fifty
leagues together '. The proper feafon for fearching for
them is in the month of February, when the waters are
low ; and, at that time, above ten thoufand people are
employed in digging and wafliing the mud and fand taken
out of the river. The ftones found here are very fine but
very fmall; and thofe which the French ftyle pointes
naiies, or clean fparks, are brought from thence. It is
judged from thefe circumftances, that there are very rich
mines in the mountains, but they are inacceffible, and
therefore both the natives and Europeans are forced ta
content themfelves with thefe pieces that are torn off by
the torrents, and are brought down with the land-floods.
The company of the Indies have alfo a fa61:ory at Papeli,
and perhaps fome other fmall ones under the direction of
that at Ougli, where they have likewife an opportunity of
dealing with merchants from all parts of Afia ; fuch as
Perfians, Arabians, Guzurats, Malabarians, Turks, Moors,
Jews, Georgians, and Armenians ; fo that it is here they
difpofe of the greateft part of their European goods and
manufactures, and at a better rate than in other parts of
the Indies '".
l^he French The French company of the Indies fend their fhips regu^
fend an- larly for China, in the fame manner as the reft of the Eu-
^^^^jyAJps ropean nations, and carry on a confiderable cornmerce
there. Their cargoes confift partly of commodities, but
chiefly in filver ; the former feldom amounting in value to
above a tenth part of the latter. As to the merchandize,
it confifts of arms, fuch as fufils, piflols, fcymitars richly
mounted, clocks, repeating watches, and toys in gold and
filver ; camblets' of feveral colours, but chiefly blue, fear-
let, and cinnamon, ftuffs of feveral kinds ; tapeftry, pa-
per and pens, mathematical inftruments, and a great quan-
tity of glafs and cryftal wares ; as alfo feveral forts of dif-
tilied and perfumed waters, and red coral ". In the firft
* Lullier Voyage aux Grandes Indes, p. 4.7- "* Tavernier,
^ullier, Guyon* &c. « Failure Generale des Merchan-
dizes Envoyes a la Chine, Sec,
fhips,
fo China.
the French in the Eajl Indies, 257
In the firjd flilps, the company fent an agent, with an inten-
tion that he Ihould have refided at Canton j but he found
himfelf fo uneafy there, and plagued with fo many demands,
that he was obliged to fend away the homeward bound fhip
without leave, and to take fhelter in a Chinefe habit in a
convent of Dominicans. Many French veflels have made
the run from Peru to China with fuccefs, and have traded,
fome at the port of Amoy, but without much profit -, mofl
of them at Canton with better fortune °. The French
have been defirous of intriguing in that country, as well
as in the dominions of the Great Mogul, but hitherto
without effect ; for the Chinefe are fo fubtle and fo fufpi-
cious, more efpecially of foreigners, that it is very impro-
bable they will ever be able to make any impreffion there p.
All the Europeans who have vilited that country agree that,
as traders, the Chinefe are as great cheats as any in the
world j but none give them a worfe character in all re-
fpefts than the French, who reprefent them as a bafe,
brutal, cowardly, infolent, and perfidious people, notwith-
Itanding the fine flories that are told by the miffionaries,
of their wifdom, virtue, and politenefs. It does not ap-
pear that the French have yet attempted any intercourfe
with the Manillas, and therefore all we have to fay of their
commerce in the Fail ends here.
But, before we conclude this fe£l:ion, it is neceflary to T/te nifhJe
fay fomething of that extraordinary eftablifnment, which, ejiabiijh-
from the favour of the crown, and for the ufe of her pro- 7^''' ^-f^ ^^
. ^1 r ^1 T V • • haven. mu"
prietors, the perpetual company 01 the Indies enjoy ni naxines
France. The miniftry confidered that, for the commo- ^harjs^
dious carrying on of this commerce, it would be necelTary &c. at Port
for the company to have a port for the reception of her ^'^'■^'«^«
ihips, docks, yards, magazines, and arfenals for con-
ftrudling, equipping, and repairing them, as well as
warehoufes for the reception of merchandife ; and to
accommodate them as well as poflible in all thefe re-
fpeils, no place was thought fo proper as Port Louis
in Bretagne 'J. This is a very fpaclous, fafe, and con-
venient harbour, at the mouth of the river Blavet, capa-
ble of receiving large fhips, which may fafely pafs to the
bottom of the bay. Yet, notwithllanding all thefe advan-
tages, it was very little frequented by vefTels of any fort,
and hardly ever by any thing better than fifliing-velTels , fo
® Noveau Tour du Monde, par L. G, De la Barbinais, torn, i,
p. 451. ^ DidlJonaire de Commerce, torn. iv. col. 834.
1 HilVoire dela Compagnie des Indes, p. 68.
Mod. Vol. IX. S that,
258
All of
nuhich are
now itn-
f roved by
the com-
pany noixj
fubjijiittg.
Conqueftsy Settlements^ and Difcoverles of
t^at, beftowing it upon the Eaft India company was no de-
triment to the trade of the kingdom ^ It was granted by
the king's declaration, dated in the month ef June, 1666^
purporting that his majefly gave and granted unto the com-
pany the village called Feandick, and feveral others, feated
on the rivers Henneban and Ponfcot, with whatever void,
wafte, and unoccupied places belonged to the crown there-
abouts, to be difpofed of in fuch a manner, as they fliould
think moft convenient for their intended eftablifliment -y
and in this they had the full property and feigniory, with-
out any rents, fervice, or reftriftions, fave, only render-
ing homage upon every change of the crown ". Here,
therefore, the Eaft India company fixed the centre of their
commerce in France, and fpent a great deal of money in
making docks and yards, and other conveniencies, be-
ftowing upon it the pompous name of Port L'Orient j and,
in time of war, the king caufed feveral large fliips to be
built and launched there, without any interruption to the
company's affairs, which were then upon the decline.
But this, coming with the reft of the effedts and pof-
feffions of the Eaft India company upon the fame terms,
and on the like truft, into the hands of the perpetual
company of the Indies, they have rendered it, in all re-
fpefts, worthy the title given it by their predeceflbrs ^
The park, which is of a confiderable extent, enclofes their
warehoufes and magazines, which are prodigioufly large,
very conveniently difpofed, well built, ftrongly vaulted,
and covered with blue Hate j the apartments of the direc-
tors, and other officers of the company, compofe alto-
gether two handfome piles of building, and are very com-
modious ', they have likewife a fpacious rope-walk, a ma-
gazine of mafts, and a fine arfenal. Before the maga-
zines lie the quays, which are always kept clean and in
good repair j clofe to them the velTels are moored fo as to
take in or deliver their lading with all imaginable facility j
and the town, port, docks, yards, and all their depen-
dencies, are covered and protected by a good citadel".
The company of the Indies, at the breaking out of the war
in 1740, had upv/ards of forty very fine fhips of their
own 5 and, according to their prefenc eftablifhment, they
fend ten or twelve every year to the Indies, that is, two
to China, three to the gulf of Bengal, three or four to Pon-
' NouveJleDefcription de la France, torn. iv. p. 342. ^ De-
claration pour I'Etabliflement la Compagnie des Indes Orientaies
au Port Louis. ^ Hiftoire des Indes Orientaies, torn iii. p.
151—375. u Di6lionaifc dc Commerce, torn. ii. col 220.
dicherry.
the French in the Raft Indies'. 259
dicherry, one or two to the iflands ^. Thus the reader
has feen the hiftory of the Eaft India companies formed
in France, as well as of their commerce and fettle-
ments from their firft attempting fuch a correfpondence
nearly to the prefent time, with, the changes and re-
volutions they have undergone, and the conftant and
zealous attention which the ablefl: of their minifters have
fliewn, in protecting and promoting a trade which they
have ever confidered as of the higheft importance, and
which, in fpite of repeated difappointments, and not*
withftanding innumerable obllacles, they had at the pe-
riod jufl mentioned, brought into a promifmg, at leaft,
if not a profperous condition.
QsoooO»9oOacooOsco90:aec039oeOMMO?:3CO ecrO c:rO^s:'OaeecO»eeOeeecO^:3^-O0M»Oe»90O
CHAP. XXXVL
T^he Hiftory of the Eftablijhment of a Com^
pany trading to the Eaji Lidiesy under the
Charter of his Imperial Majejly^ froth OJlend.
SECT. I.
l!he pretended^ as well as the real Motives, to the pro-
pofing a Commerce between the Auftrian Netherlands
and the Eaft Indies*
THE diftin£lion between the Auftrian or Spanifh and Tfieinha'
the United or Dutch Netherlands, arofe from the bitants of
cefTion made by his catholic majefty, who had been the '^f ^"Z"
legal fovereign of them all, to the archdukes Albert and ^P^" '"'
Ifabella, of thofe ten provinces that continued in obedience gxduaed
to him when the other feven threw off the lyoke and be- by the kings
came a free ftate. This great event happened in the year of Spain
1598, when, by the very a£l by which thefe provinces /''^^ '^^''"^
were given to the princes before mentioned, it is declared ^"^^^ ^
that none of their fubjeCIs fhall be at liberty to fend any Indies,
fhips to, or carry any traffick in, either the Eaft or Weft
Indies upon any pretence whatfoever ; and in cafe they
(hould offend in this particular, his catholic majefty re-
w Hiftoire des Indes, p. 369, 370,
S 2 ferved
2$Q An H/Jiorical Account of
ferved to himfelf the power of punifliing them who fhould
be found fo offending, and that in the fevereft manner,
by the confifcation of their goods, and even with death
itfelf *. This reftri£lion which, no doubt, was intended
for the benefit of the fubjeifts of Spain, and with a view
of preferving to them all the advantages accruing from the
commerce of both the Indies, was the reafon that the in-
habitants of thefe provinces contented themfelves with
their own manufactures, and fuch a foreign trade as they
could fafely and legally carry on, not only while they re-
mained under thofe princes, but alfo after they were again
united to the crown of Spain upon the demife of the arch-
duchefs Ifabella in 1638 y. But during all this fpace, they
looked upon that reflraint as a thing very harfh and griev-
ous, and from which they were very defirous of being re-
leafed, though the applications made for this fpurpofe
from time to time to the court of Madrid were conftantly
reje&d, either from principles of policy or prudence, to-
avoid giving offence to the Spaniards, who looked upon
this exclufion as one of the higheft and moft valuable pre-
rogatives of their monarchy, by which they were parti-
cularly diftinguiflied from the refl of the fubje£l& of his
catholic majefty *.
How far But at length the cardinal infant being entrufted with
the carat' ^'^^ adminiflration of thefe countries, in order to ingra-
Tro^ureT ^^^^^ himfelf with the people, folicited Philip the Fourth
thisfe<uere withfuch earneftnefsand afliduity, that, about the year 1640,
reftriftion he had almofl; brought this point to bear, and prevailed
to be mitt' fo far as to obtain leave for the inhabitants of the Auftrian
gated, Netherlands to trade in all thofe parts of the Eaft Indies
that had been conquered, and were poffeffed by the Por-
tuguefe ; but it fell out unluckily, that before any benefit
could be obtained from this grant, the people of Portugal
revolted, and then it was thought requifite to cancel, and
even difavow any fuch conceffion, that it might not give
offence to the Portuguefe, or prove a hindrance to their
fubmitting again to the crovz-n of Caftile. It was the
more unfortunate for them that no memorial was pre-
ferved of this grant, except a letter from the cardinal in-
fant to the magiftrates of Antwerp, in which there is no
more than his catholic majeily's being brought to incline
* Corps Diplomatique, torn, v partie i. p. 574. > Le Clerc
Hiftoire des Piovinces-unies, torn. ii. p. 148. z Hiftoria de las
Indias Occidentalcs, per Antonio de Herrera, Decad. i. lib. ii.
cap. 4.
to
the OJlend Eaft India Companf. ^6|
to fuch a conceflion as is mentioned ^ After this period,
ive hear nothing farther of fuch a projeiSl for near fixty
years, during which, however, thefe provinces remained
in fubjedtion to his catholic majefty. The people, fenfi-
ble of this reftri<^ion, never intermeddled with this pro-
hibited commerce, and if any of them viiited the Spanifh
territories in America, it was in the king's (liips, and in
his fervice ; in which cafe it was fuppofed that they did
nQt fall within the penal claufe before mentioned j yet,
in this time, the inhabitants of the Low Countries were in
a very mean and diftrefled condition, occafioned chiefly by
the wars with France, and their having often two, fome--
times three armies living upon them **,
In the reign of Charles the Second, the laft king of An Eafi
Spain of the houfe of Auftria, the ftates of Flanders re- '"^'« <"*^*
fumed this defign, and having reprefented to that monarch t^Y R b-
how much fuch an eftablifhment would contribute to the ijjhedin the
welfare of his fubje6i:s, and the augmentation of the royal Lo'w Court'
revenue, they procured a charter for erecting a company '"'-^ h
impowered to trade in fuch parts of the Eail Indies and ^^^^^^ ■'*•
the coafl of Guinea, as were not in the pofleilion of other
nations. The capital was to confift of two millions of
florins, one fourth part to be a£lually raifed before the end
of 06lober 1698, and the reft in the year 1700 and 170T *=.
But here again they met with another misforture ; for
the treaty of partition being made about this time,
clamped the fpirits of the people to fuch a degree, that the
fcheme could not be carried into execution, and the death,
of his catholic majefty following foon after, and, imme-
diately upon that, the long war about the right of fucceffion,
all thoughts of this nature were let fall, at leaft for the
pre fen t ; whereas, if any thing had been done, or fo
much as a ihip fent, it might have prevented thofe dif-
putes which have given occafion to this feftion. After
the battle of Ramillies in 1706, the Auftrian Netherlands
fell under the protection of the maritime powers, who
held it as it were in truft for his imperial majeftyj into
whofe pofleffion it did not come till ten years afterwards,
and then, in confequence of a negociatioa, by which it
pafled under the fame reftricStions to which it had been
fubjefled by the crown of Spain in refpe6t to the com-
a Placaits de Brabant, torn. i. M. 321. b Gaiccard. De-
fcript. des Pays Bas c La Verite du Fait dti Ds oil, k I'liv-
Jteret de tout ce qui concerne Jes Comu>erc'e des Iodts» etabli aux
Pays Bas Autrichicns, par Oftroi S. M. J. & Calholique, Tea.
;txxvii,
S 3 «ierc«
262 -^^ Hijtoncal Account cf
me'rcc of the Indies. In this flate they were when his im-
perial majefty declared his ferene highnefs prince Eugene
of Savoy governor-general, and the marquis de Prie coun-
fellor of ftate, with the power of adminiftering affairs in
his highnefs's abience, and under his orders, not long
after which the thoughts of attempting a correfpondence
with the Indies were revived, and fome attempts made to
effecSt it ^. ■
When the We may clearly perceive from this deduction that there
frjijleps is no foundation for the fentiment which commonly pre-
'were taken y^HS.'^^ ^s if the fubje£ls of his imperial majefty were tempt-
an ^Eafl ^"^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ "P ^" ^^^ India company by the example of the
India com^ Miffinippi projeft in France, and the South Sea fcheme
fany at in England ; whereas, in truth, this defign was of an
OJiend, earlier date than cither '^, Some private perfons fent a
fhip or two in 17 17, and thefe meeting with tolerable fuc-
cefs, were followed the next year by two or three more,
authorized only by the governor-generars letters and palT-
ports ; or, as they are llyled in the letters and memorials
relating to this bufmefs, lettres de mer. In this fhape the
new commerce fucceeded fo happily that many were de-
firous of engaging in it, and the granting of thefe licences,
or lettres de mer, became very lucrative to certain per-
fons in the adminiftration. About this time fome aftive
* foreigners began to projedl: the forming of a company at
Oftend, in which defign they foon met with fo great en-
couragement, that they ventured to make overtures to
the minifters at Vienna, which were favourably received.
In the month of 06lober, 17 19, they had the firfl intel-
ligence that one of thefe licenfed fhjps had been feized by
a Dutch vefTel, in the fervice of the Weft India company,
on the coaft of Guinea, and confifcated with her whole
cargo, without fo much as the ceremony of a procefs *".
Of this feizure the imperial minifter complained at the
Hague, but could obtain only dark indeterminate anfwers,
which manifefted an intention rather to maintain this ac-
tion, fince it was done, than to enter into an explanation
of the motives that might ferve to juftify it; except that
this was an illicit trade, in which fome merchants of Ant-
werp had engaged through avarice, and which, if they
continued purfuing, would be found rather ruinous than
^ RoulTet, Recueil Hiftorique d'A6ls, Negociations, &c. vol. ii.
p. 4. e Defenfe du Droit de la Compagnie HoUandoife des
jndes Orientales, &c. ^ La Verite du Droit, & de Interet de
Cpinmerce des Indes, 5fc. fedt. xx?cix,
advan-*
the Oft end Eaft India Company. 263
advantageous : much the fame ufage they met with from
another quarter, upon a complaint of the like nature, for
feizing another fhip under colour of her being engaged in
an illegal commerce s.
But, upon an application to the government in the Au- Reprifalg
ftrian Low Countries, fignifying the treatment fhips had «r«^f ly
met with under his Imperial majefty's flag, letters of re- ^f^'^^V^
prifal were eafily obtained by the intereft of thofe who be- ^^^.'^1^^
gan to llyle themfelves a company. Captain Winter, who «,#?»,
■commanded the veflel that had been taken on the coaft of upon the
•Guinea, conceiving he fhould be juftified by the authority ^^'^ ^
of thefe letters, proceeded to the Downs, where meeting J^^^^
with his own {hip he feized her again, and carried her in-
to Oftend, with a very valuable lading of elephants teeth
and gold dull, belonging to the Dutch Weft India com-
pany. That company complaining to the States General,
their minifters at Bruflels and Vienna interpofed warmly,
and in their remonftrances they were fupported by the in-
fluence of Great Britain. The letters of reprifal, how-
jever, were infifted upon, and the minifters put in mind of
the fmall regard that had been fliewn but a little time
before on a like application from his Imperial majefty ; fo
that it was eafily perceived, that though they met with
many good words, and great aflurances of friendfhip and
■eileem, yet fatisfa61:ion and reftitution were hardly to be
■expefled ^, This was a very hardy and a very extraordi^
nary enterprize, confidering the naval force of the mari-
time pov/ers, and how nearly they were concerned : never- '^"
thelefs the minifters at Vienna remained firm, and infift-
ed that the fubjedis of the -emperor having been firft in-
jured, it was but reafonable they fhould be the firft alio
that received fatisfadion. This pretence drew the nego-
tiation into fome length, and as gaining time in fuch cafes
is gaining a great deal, fo able minifters are never atalofs
for expedients in matters of this fort ; and their manage-
ment through the whole was fuch as ftiewed them to be
perfect m afters in that art, than which nothing could be
more ufeful at this juncture, fince it ferved to keep the
maritime powers in fufpenfe, and to raife the fpirits of his
Imperial majefty's fubje6i:s, who faw plainly how well m.-^
clined the court was to fupport and prote£t them ^
This patronage gave fo much credit to the new com-
pany, that in the year 1720 they equipped five large Ihips
g Memoires du Temps, p. 391. h Ibid. p. 4.1 1, ^ BoufTet^
jRecueil Hiftori^ue d'Ails, Negotiations, &c vol. ii. p. 4.
S 4 for
264
The traders
under feme
apprehen-
Jions,
ivhichf
hotue'verf
are Joon
dif/pated.
Obtain a
fromife of
a charter*
An Hijorical Account of
for the Indies, and the year following fix more ; three for
China, one for Mocha, another for Surat and the coaft of
Malabar, and the fixth for Bengal, which provoked the
Dutch to fuch a degree, that they feized a vefTel richly
laden by the merchants of Bruges, and ordered her cargo
to be fold, notwithftanding the applications of the Impe-
rial miniflers at the Hague to prevent it. This misfor-
tune was followed by another ; an Engliih privateer made
capture on the coaft of Madagafcar, of an Oftend home-
ward-bound ihip very richly laden, a circumftance which
fo difcouraged the new company, that they ordered a new
fhip they v/ere then fitting out to be laid up '' : but, in the
months of May and June, 172 1, they received two fhips
from the Indies, and in the month of September two more,
the cargoes of which being expofed to fale, went off at fo
round a rate, that they found themfelves not only indem-
nified for their lofTes, but likewife in a condition to carry
on their commerce with greater fuccefi than ever. The
only thing they wanted was a legal eftablifliment ; for
though the imperial court had, for a long time, flattered
them with the hopes of letters patent, yet they had hither-
to delayed them, to avoid an open quarrel with the mari*
time powers, which, at that juncture efpecially, would
have been very inconvenient ^
But foon after the arrival of thefe laft mentioned fhips,
the company having money in their hands, and powerful
friends at the court of Vienna, refolved to negle(fl: nothing
that might contribute to put their affairs on thebeft foun-
dation po0ible i and with this view they fent fome of their
directors to court, very well furniilied with inftru£tions
and bills for confiderable fums of money, Thefe gentle*
men managed their affairs with fuch dilligence and.pru*
dence, that they obtained a promife of a charter as exten-r
five as they could wifh, or any company in Europe had re-
ceived ; the draught of which was immediately communi-
cated, and gave them entire fatisfadion '". The emperor
likewife promifed to fend a perfon vefted with a public cha-
r.adfer to the Great Mogul, to fettle an alliance with him,
^nd to return him thanks for the permiffion he had grant-
ed the company, not only to erecSt a factory, but a fort to
prote6l their commerce in his dominions. The profpe£t
his Imperial majefty had of enriching his fubjects in the
k Di6Vlonaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 1165.
hiftoriqiie et politique, torn. Ixx. p. 676—781,
C-ommerqe, torn, ii, col, 1165;,
1 Memoire
M Diftionaire de
LOMT
the OJlend Eafi India Company. 2^5
Low Countries, and augmenting the revenues he drew
from thence, by fixing fo extenfive and profitable a com-
merce there, engaged him to affure the agents of that
company of ftill greater favours. He even intimated, that
he would remit all cuftoms and duties for three whole
years, and would make the proprietors a prefent of three
hundred thoufand florins in ready money, to indemnify
them from any lofles they might fuftain on the firit efta-
bliihment of their commerce, which muft, in the nature
of things, be regarded as inevitable ".
SECT. II.
The political ConduB of the States General^ the Court of
Great Britain, and the Crowns of France and Spaln^
in order to procure Satisfaction upon this Head, and to
prevent the Commerce of their SubjeBs fiffering, from
the Schemes of the new- erected Company,
'TpHESE favours raifed fuch a fpirit not only among the But the
"* merchants, bankers, and other perfons concerned in ^^riiif»f
trade and money, but alfo among the nobility and gentry, ^^^'P^'f
that they (hewed an inclination to exert themfelves to the t^e ivarm-
utmofi; in the fupport of the new company. Not the in- eji manner
habitants only of thefe provinces, and other flibjedls of his potfibley to
Imperial majefty, encouraged this undertaking, but alfo t^^'^^^^ ''•
the Engliih, French, and Dutch, who were chiefly con-
cerned in the (hipping, and in the management of the
company's affairs, notwithftaliding they very well knew
they could never profper, but at the expence of their na-
tive countries, and of the eftablifhments for the fame com-
merce long ago erected in them. We need not wonder,
therefore, that this new company at Oftend (hould occafion
fuch noife throughout all Europe, or excite great difcord and
difturbance, fo as to render this chapter as remarkable a
part of general hiftory as any that finds a place therein.
But it mufh feem a little (Irange at firll fight, that the
warmed friends, and moft faithful allies of his Imperial
majefty (hould be the moft violent in this oppofition. One
would have imagined, that the emperor had the fame
right in his dominions that other princes and ftates have
in their's •, and that how contrary foever the erecting fuch
n Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, torn. \\u p. 66t Diftionaire de
Commerce, tom. \\, col. 1166.
a com- /
z66
Motives
nxhick in-
duced the
Dutch to
ftir there-
in,, and
nvhat thetr
hopes 'were
ejfucceed-
An Htftorical Account of
a company In the Auftrian Low Countries might be to ^\!Z
intereits of other nations, they could, hQwever, have no
jult claim to demand or expect that his Imperial majefty
iliould forego fuch apparent advantages for their fakes, or
in plain terms, hinder his ovi'n fubjefts from becoming
rich, that their's might remain fo. The States General,
who thought themfelves moil aggrieved, were earlieft and
loudeft in their complaints. Mr. Bruyninx, their envoy
at the court of Vienna, prefented a memorial, in which he
obferved, that by the treaty of Munfter, commerce and na-
vigation to the Eaft and Weil Indies were regulated and
limited with refpe6l to the fubjefts of Spain, without far-
ther power of extenfion ; and with refpedl to the fubje£ls
of the States General, it was agreed, that the former
fhould refrain from places which the latter pofleiTed ; that
the faid treaty was coniirmed by the barrier treaty, under
the guarantee of his Britannic majefty ; the States there-
fore amicably required, that the patent granted for navi-
gation and commerce of the Auftrian Netherlands to the
Indies, might be withdrawn, or at leaft rendered inef-
feaual°.
Several circumftances concurred to quicken their High
Mightinefles in taking this ftep •, for, firft, they were ex-
tremely preiTed by their own Eaft India company, fome of
the principal managers of which had alfo a confiderable in-
tereft in the government ; next, the ftate of affairs in Eu-
rope feemed to add weight to their interpofition ; not that
they depended much on the remembrance of fervlces al-
ready done, but becaufe they knew there were many things
which the imperial court would be glad to do, and which
they could not well do without their ailiftance \ laftly, it
was judged eaiier for them to obtain, and more honour-
able for the emperor to grant, a total reje£lion of thefe
offers made by the projedlors of this new company, before
a charter v/as a£lually granted p. Yet their expc6lations
in this refpeft failed them, and this memorial, however
warm and pathetic, had by no means that influence with
which they had flattered themfelves, notwithftanding they
had the concurrence, though from very different motives,
of one of the greateft perfonages at, and a minifter in the
higheft credit with, the court of Vienna. The firft of
thefe was the illuflrious prince Eugene of Savoy, who,
° Mercure hiftorique & politique, torn. Ixxi. p. 715. Hiftorical
Kegifter, vol. viii, p. 34.6. r Mercure hiftorique et politique,
torn. Ixxii. p. 551.
folely
the Ojlend Eaft India Company,
26'
folely out of refpetft to juftice, and the true interefts of the
houle of Auflria, declared againft this meafure, and, with
his ufual candour and plainnefs, foretold, that it could
not fail to leflen that perfect intelligence that had fo long
fubfifled between his Imperial majefty and the maritime
powers, and which, in its confequences, mull dillurb that
iyftem upon which the tranquility and independency of
Europe was eftabliflied. The other was the Marquis de
Prie, who, being at the head of the adminiftration in the
Low Countries, was a great gainer by licences, paflports,
and commiiTions, all of which he knew would ceafe, when
the company obtained their charter ; and though his op-
poiition was lefs reafonable, yet it was rather more vio-
lent (Y).
In England, things took exa6):ly the fame turn as In Precautions
Holland ; and the Eaft India company having, with the Hf^^ '«
confent of the miniftry, petitioned the Houfe of Com- ^^^^^f-
mons upon this fubjecl, it began to be confidered as a na- prl^vent
tional aifair. To quicken, however, the parliament in its any of its
proceedings, the directors of that company caufed the inhabitants
from being
(Y) It may not be amifs to holding them upon the fame f^^^^"
acquaint the reader with the terms, and in the fame manner, ^^^^^^
arguments advanced by fuch of as they had been held by other
the imperial minillers as difap- princes of the Houle ofAullria,
the breaking through this con-
dition to the prejudice of the
powers by whofe affiftance
thefe countries were obtained,
was not confident either with
his intereflt or his glory ; and
that whatever advantages this
new commerce might promife,
it could not be reckoned fecure,
if the maritime powers had re-
courfe to violent meafures ;
and, at all events, could never
balance the detaching thofe
powers from their connexions
with the Houfe of Aultria, and
obliging them, for the fake of
fupporting their own interefts,
to enter into a conjun61:ion with
that of Bourbon (1),
proved the eredion of the
OHend company. They ob-
ferved, that, independent of all
abftrufe points, it was a fa6t
fufficiently clear, that the Au-
ilrlan Low Countries were ac-
quired for his Imperial majefty
by the arms, and at the ex-
pence of the maritime powers :
that, without doubt, when they
did this, they could not appre-
hend that their commerce in
the Eaft Indies would be in any
dangeroffufferingfrom thence,
fmce, if they had, there was
nothing eafier than for them to
have prevented it : that if his
Imperial majefty entered into
the poiTeffion of thefe countries
even under a tacit condition of
(i) Recueil hiftorique d'A61s, Negotiations, Meraoires, et Trai-
tez, par Monf. Rouffet, torn, ii, p. 43.
Putch
268 An Hijlorical Account of
Dutch memorial before mentioned to be tranflated, and
delivered to the members at the door of the houfe, which
produced all they could defire ^ A committee was im-
mediately appointed, of which Sir Nathaniel Gould was
chairman, and, in due time, a report being made, the
houfe came to certain refolutions, upon which a bill was
framed for preventing any fubje(5ls of Great Britain inte-
refting themfelves in the capital of the Oftend company,
or entering into its fervice, under very fevere penalties ;
which bill pafled both houfes, received the royal affent,
and became a law : this, without doubt, had a confiderable
operation, though it did not totally eradicate the evil,
fome, who were by birth fubje^ls of the crown of Great
Britain, continuing ftill to a6t againft the public intereft,
for the fake of acquiring or adding to their private for-
tunes P : but one great end it certainly anfwered, which
was, to let the refl of Europe fee, that the court and the
nation had the fame fentiment upon this head ; and that
the maritime powers were determined to take the fame
part, as they were alike concerned in intereft in the event
of this tranfad:Ion*J.
Kti Impe- It was very reafonably Imagined, that the court of
rial Ma- Vienna would, from a tendernefs for its own interefts,
jeftfschar- j^^yg riJconfidered this point, and endeavoured to find
Id ^and ' ^^^^ means to pacify thofe powers, by whofe treafures
publijhfdln ^^d armies thofe very countries were acquired, which
the Low had given rife to this difpute : but, notwithftanding the
Countries, joint follcltatlons of the Englifh and Dutch minifters,
the emperor feemed more and more deterrtiined to main-
tain his point ; and therefore, in the month of Auguft,
1723, actually publlfhed, as at the clofe of the preceding
year he had granted, his letters patent to the Oftend com-
pany, though with fome variations from the plan before
laid down. In the preamble to thefe letters, the emperor
not only took all the titles of the head of the houfe o£
Auftria, but llkewife thofe of the king of Spain, and,
in particular, ftyled himfelf king of the Eaft and Weft
Indies, of the Canary Iflands, &c, with a view probably
to grace this new and ample grant to the Oftend com-
pany, which was eftabllthed for thirty years, with licence
to trade to the Eaft Indies and Weft, and^on all the coaft3
of Africa, on this fide and on the other fide the Cape of
® Hiftorical Regifter, vol, viii. p. 346. P Chronological
Diary for 1713, p. i6. q Hiftoire des Indes Orientales, torn*
ill. p. 66.
Good
the Oflend Eajl India Company, 269
Good Hope, their (Kips obferving the ufual cufloms ; fo
that, fuppofing it could be maintained, a more ample
charter could hardly be defired "" (Z).
The capital, however, of the company was, by thefe Suhjianceof
letters, reduced to fix millions of florins, and the number i^^i^ "ew
of their a£^ions to fix thoufand ; but, in other refpefts, ^^^ ^"^^^^
they had all the powers and privileges laid down in the firfl ^"„ 'f^'vour
plan, and many more ; for they were permitted to build qf the com-
forts and caflles in whatever parts of the Eait Indies they panj,
fhould think fit, as alfo to furnifh them with all kinds of
arms, artillery, and ammunition, that they thought con-
venient. They were likewife allowed to build and equip
fhips, of whatever fize and flrength they thought proper,
in any of the ports of his Imperial majefty's dominions
in the Low Countries, Italy, or elfewhere ; as alfo to
make leagues, treaties, and alliances, witli the fovereign
princes and dates of the Indies, in the name of his Im-
perial majefty, with this reftriftion only, that they fliould
not make war on any potentate whatever, without the
r Recueil Hiilorique d'A£ls, Negotiations, Memoires, et
Traitez, par M. Roufler, torn, ii, p. 5.
(Z) The readinefs with
which the managers of this
new commerce found money,
aiid whatever elfe was requifite
to fupport their defign, pro-
ceeded chiefly from that ex-
travagant appetite for gain that
prevailed at this time through
all Europe, as the difcovery
of various frauds committed
by the fervants of fuch compa-
nies as had already an eftablifh-
ed trade in the Indies, furnifti-
ed them with agents and under-
fervants extremely capable of
managing their affairs ; and to
thefe therefore we ought to at-
tribute that furprifing alacrity
with which they caufed fqua-
dron after fquadron to put to
fea. Thus, notwithftainding
they had, in 1720, fent fix
fliips richly laden to the Indies,
yet, in 1721, they equipped
the like number, of which three
were deftlned for China, one
for Mocha, one for Surat and
the coall of Malabar, and one
for the bay of Bengal. They
gave out alfo, to encourage and
keep up the fpirit of thofe who
favoured them, that they had
not only procured leave fronl
the Great Mogul to build a
fort, for the fecurity of their
factory, in his dominions, in
which there was fome truth,
but alfo that they had obtained
permiffion to ellablifli them-
felves in China, though that
was afterwards found to have
no foundation at all. Never-
th clefs, they had a good inter-
eft there, and were as well re-
ceived as ally Europeans (i).
(i) Di^ionaire de Commerce, torn, ii, col. 1165.
leave
270
Attended
nvith all
imaginable
circuni'
Jiances of
fuccefs on
thefirjiap"
pearance*
An Hiftorical Account of
leave of his Imperial majefty.and his fucceflbrs firft had
and obtained. In confideration of all which grants, pri-
vileges, benefits, and advantages, the faid company bound
themfelves to offer, as a homage to his Imperial majefty,
his heirs and fucceffors, on every fucceflion, a golden
lion crowned, of the weight of twenty marks, holding
under his two fore-paws the arms of the company, which
were a fpread-eagle difplayed, with the terreftrial globe
between his two heads, furmounted by an imperial crown.
Laftly, his Imperial majefty undertook to protefl and
defend the faid new company, againft all who fhould un-
juftly attack them, and fhould even, in cafe of neceffity,
employ the whole force of his dominions, to fupport and
maintain them in the full and free poffeffion and entire
enjoym.ent of the commerce and navigation granted them
by thefe letters, and obtain for them full damages and
fatisfaftion, from any nation, ftate, or potentate, that
fhould prefume to trouble or difturb them ; and fhould
likewife, for the future, provide, in every refpeft for
their fafety and welfare, by any treaties, alliances, or
leagues, into which his Imperial majefty, his heirs or
fucceffors, fliould hereafter enter with any power what-
ever ^.
As foon as thefe letters patent were publifhed, and re-
giftered in the fovereign courts of the Auftrian Low Coun-
tries, the direftors taking poffeffion of their offices, held
fobn after their firft general court ; in which it was re-
folved, that the books of the company fhould be opened
at Antwerp, on the 1 1 th of Auguft ; they were opened
accordingly, and that with fuch fuccefs as furprifed all
Europe j for the next day by noon the capital was entirely
fubftribed, and by the end of the month of Auguft the
ftock of the Oftend company was fifteen per cent. abov«
par ^ The affairs of this new fociety were no lefs
flourlfliing in the Indies, where the perfons they employed,
beirig moft of them fuch as had ferved before either the
Englifh or the Dutch Eaft India companies, found ways
and means to fettle fa6lorIes, with amazing facility and
fuccefs, and to pufli their trade in fuch a manner, as very
evidently fliewed, that if the Intereft of fuch as oppofed
this company did not effe£l its fuppreffion In Europe,
s Lettres Patentes, &c. imprimees a Bruxelles par Eugenes
Henri Friex, imprimeur- de fa Majefie Imperiale et Catholique,
en 1723, in 4to. V Mercure Hiftorique ct politique, torn.
Ixxv. p. 229.
their
the Oftend Eafi India Company, 271
their efforts in the Indies would do little, unlefs they had
recourfe to open force, fmce all the arts, to decry them at
the courts of infidel princes had been already put in prac-
tice without effe<5t ".
SECT. IIL
fhe Progrefs of this OppoJItlon.
n^ H E Dutch Eaft India company prefented, in lefs than AppUcatim
-■• a fortnight, two memorials to the States General i ^L^^^l c a
in which they fcarce kept any meafures, but plainly in- ^^J^ ^'^^
ti mated, that, as the eftablifhment of this new company pany to tht
was in direci violation of treaties, fo they OM^t to h^ States, and
left at liberty to aft as if thofe treaties no longer fubfifted, ^^''^ ^'"»-
and do themfelves that luftice by arms, which was every " „r^,
day more and more apparent could not be obtanied any
other way. The States, however, were by no means in-
clined to break with his Imperial majefty, if by any me-
thods they might avoid a rupture. They therefore flill
continued their applications at the court of Vienna, in
conjunftion with Great Britain, to obtain the revocation
of the authority by which the new company a£led, or
at leaft a fufpenfion of it ; and, in the meantime, they
made fuch laws at home in favour of their own India
company, as they thought requifite, to prevent any of
the fubje£ls of their High Mightinefles from having con-
cern either in the capital of the Eaft India company in
the Auftrian Netherlands, or in the management of their
affairs in the Indies ^ ; on the other hand, the agents of
the Dutch company in the Indies, though they did not
proceed to direft a£l:s of violence, took fuch methods in
that part of the world, where their power is fo great and
fo extenfive, as gave this new fociety infinite trouble, by
cramping their trade, and rendering it precarious ; iri^
which they were fo well feconded by the Englifh, that
nothing but the aftivity and abilities of thfe perfons con-
cerned, and their finding themfelves in a manner defpe-
rate, in cafe it did not fucceed, could have kept it on
foot, in fpite of the difficulties and inconveniences which
they every day experienced ^.
u Hifroire des Indes Orientale?, torn. iii. p 73. 't Memoire
Hiftorique et politique, torn. Ixxv. p. 235- v Hiftoire des Indes
Orientales, tom. iii. p. 7*. * From private information of iuch
as were then itfident in the Indies.
Not
ay 2 -An Hijiorical Account of
The eronvn ^^^ ^"^7 Great Britain and Holland exerted themfelveg
©/ France againft this new eftablifhment : France likewife began to
declares take umbrage at a fcheme which threatened deftru£lion
^Ttffh-" ^^ ^^^^ eftablifhment of the fame kind, which (he was en-
tnent and ^eavouring to ereft ; and therefore, his moft Chriftian
provides majefty's council publifhed a declaration, dated the i6th
pr heroivn of Auguft, 1723, by which all the fubjefts of the crown
Jecurity* of France were forbid to intereft themfelves, in any man-
ner whatever, in the capital of the Oftend company, un-
der pain of forfeiting three thoufand livres for every a6t
of offence, befides incurring the confifcation of whatever
they fhould fubfcribe into the capital of the faid com-
pany ; and in cafe of a fecond offence, the fame fine and
forfeiture, together with banifhment for three years. By
the fecond article of this declaration, his moft Chriftian
majefty directed, that in cafe the effects his fubje£ls
might acquire by interefting themfelves in the ftock of this
new company could not be reached, fo as to make them
liable to the confifcation before mentioned, then their ef-
fecls and fortunes in France ftiould be liable to the like
feizures and forfeitures, until the fums in which they
were fo concerned in the Auftrian company fhould be
raifed and levied : and all this in the fhort, fummary, and
extraordinary method defcribed by the royal ordinance of
1670. By the third article, all feamen, mamifacSlurers,
tradefmen, and in general all the fubjetts of his moft
Chriftian majefty, were ftri^lly prohibited and forbid to
enter, in any manner or quality, into the fervice of the
faid Oftend company, on pain of imprifonment, and for-
feiture of all their effe£ls. By the fourth article, allper-
fons whatever were protibited from inviting, inlifting, in-
rolling, or otherwife entering into the fervice of the faid
company, any of the fubjeds of his mofl Chriftian ma-
jefty, in quality of oflicers, foldiers, feamen, or in any
other quality or manner, as alfo to fell, or buy, or lend,
or equip any veffel for the fervice of the faid company,
on pain of the pillory for the firft offence, and of being
fent to the gallics for the fecond, befides the confifcation
of all that fliould be thus bought or fold, and a fine of
three thoufand livres each on both the buyer and feller^.
The weight of all thefe great powers feemcd more than
fufticient to crufn this infant company, hov/ much foever
it might be the inclination and the intereft of his Imperial
Biajefty to cherifli and fupport it.
a Piftionaire de Commerce, tom. ii. col. 11654
It
the Ofiend Eajl India Company. 273
It was not long, however, before another great poten- An exam-
tate interfered hkewife, and declared himfelf with equal pl^t ivhxck
vehemence againft this new eftablilhment. This was his ^^J^f'^^j
late cathoHc majefty Philip the Fifth, who viewed this ^JlJ'„ ^f
affair precifely in the fame light with the maritime pow- Stam^ m a
ers, as appears from a reprefentation prefented to his manner tke
Britannic majefhy, by the Spanifh minifter, on the 26th mcji public,
oL April 1724, conceived in the moft exprefs terms, anci
demonftrating the injuftice and illegality of this new eila-
blifiiment '', proving it utterly inconfiUent with the treaty
of Munfter, by which the crown of Spain engaged not
to difturb the navigation of the Dutch to their Eaft Indies,
in coniideration of a reciprocal engagement on their fide
not to difturb the commerce of the fubje6ts of the crown of
Spain in that part of the world. It was by thefe recipro-
cal ftipulations, that the fubje6i:s of the crown of Spain
in the Low Countries were reilrained from trading to the
Eaft Indies ; and it was under thefe reftriclions that the
Spanifh Low Countries were yielded to the elector of
Bavaria, and by France, with his confent, to the houfe
of Auftria, upon exprefs condition, that this houfe fliould
hold them in the fame manner, and under the faniv? re-
ftri6lions, as they had 'been held by the crown of Spain,
for which condition their High MightinelTes likewife en-
gaged : fo that if the Oftend company might be legally efta-
bliftied, it would turn as much to the detriment of Spain
as to that of the States General, contrary to the mean-
ing and intention of ail thefe treaties and alliances niade
for eftablilhing and fecuring the tranquility of Europe ;
but, by this conftruftion, if it could be put upon them,
rendered hurtful and ruinous to all parties, fave the em-
peror alone, and deftruftive of themfelves. Such was
the reprefentation of the marquis de Pozzo Bueno at the
court of London, and fo clearly was his catholic ma-
jefty, , at that time, convinced, that the eftabliftiment
of the Oftend company was inconfiftent with his own
particular intereft, as well as with the general fyftem of
Europe.
The contents of this memorial very evidently ftiew, Ss^/ie re-
that the natural and unbiafted fentiments of the SpaniOi "^arks on
minifters were the very fame with refpeft to the right of '^'^ -^"^'"
his Imperial majefty, to eftablifh an Eaft India company thnpan'fk
in the Auftrian Netherlands, with thofe of j:he fl^tef- memoriul,
men in England, France, and Holland, which is a point and the
■ - ' judgment
Recueil Hiftorique d'Aaes?, Negotiations, Memoires, et °^.1^^^P^:
Traitfz, par M. Rouflet, torn. ii. p. 76^ ^^'J^ ^''''«?/-
MoD.VoL.IX. T of'''''
2-4 -^'^ Hjjlorkal Account of
of very great, and will be of perpetual importance,
becaufc the treaty of Munfter, in which the catholic
king and the States were contraOing parties, is explained
on both fides in the fame way ; fo that, if there can be
any thing certain or fettled in modern politics, it mufl be
the true fenfe of thofe articles in that treaty upon which
the States General founded their demand, fince the Spa-
nifh court teflified, that they underftood their meaning
as the States did-, whereas it was infilled on by the ad-
vocates for the Ollend company, that thofe articles had no
fuch meaning -, except, in the opinion of the Dutch,
which by this memorial is abfolutely contradifled. The
only obje(Sl:ion that can poflibly be made to this reafoning
is, that the Spanifh minifters were induced to acknowlege
this the genuine meaning, becaufe it was the intereft of
the crown of Spain : but to this the mofl fatisfa61:ory an-
fwer may be given ; for if thefe articles, fo interpreted,
fair in equally with the interefls of Spain and the Repub-
lic, this is the moil decifive proof that this was the ori-
ginal and only meaning of thofe articles, becaufe it is to
be prefumed in all treaties, that the mutual benefit of the
contracting, parties is equally confidered. However it
might be in the courfe of thefe difputes, it was actually
proved that the court of Spain had already regarded the
thing in this light, and had ever taken this to be the fcnfe
of thofe .articles in its greateft rigour.
SECT. IV.
His Catholic Majefiy makes a JJoort Turn, and though
, his Right of Oppofttion was theftrongefi of any, enters
into a 'Treaty with the Emperor ; and in Conjequence of
that Meafure, .undertakes the Protection and Support
of the Nezv Company, which alarms all the other
Powers y and produces the Treaty of Hancver,
Noiunih- 'T'^HINGS, however, foon after, changed their appear-
jjandtng X ance, and in confequence of fome private negocia-
TuddenL ^ ^^<^"S, the court of Spain departed of a fudden from all its
change former maxims, and not only concluded a definitive treaty
ftdes, and with his imperial majefty, but a formal alliance alfo ; and,
an alliance which is flill more extraordinary, a treaty of commerce,
^^'i^lth^'lf^^ dated at Vienna, May i, 1725, manifeftly contrary to its
emteror ^^^ interells, as well as dire^ly repugnant to wiiat in
^ ' this
the OJlend Eajl India Company, 275
this memorial had been laid down, as the judgment of his
catholic majefty, upon the fubjecSl of this new commerced
It is not neceffary to our purpofe to enter deeply into
the enquiry upon what motives the court of Madrid aded
in the courfe of thefe negociations. It is fufficient to ob-
ferve that, let thofe motives be what they would, it was
impoffible they fliould diflblve the engagements that either
their imperial or catholic majefties had formerly entered
into with other princes and itates.; and therefore it was
very reafonable for fuch as thought themfelves injured by
this new treaty, to infill upon fo plain and fo felf-evident
a principle. The great fecrecy with which this negocia-
tion was managed, which produced thefe treaties, was an
argument that this was forefeen by the courts that con-
cluded them ; and, indeed, hardly any thing happened
within the compafs of men's m.emories that occafioned
more unlverfal aftonilhment than this fudden and furpriz-
ing union between powers that had fo long mfanifefled an
irreconcileable averfion ; but, however, this would not
have given any great diflaite to their allies, if they had
not been psrfuaded by this treaty of commerce, efpecially,
that their interefts were to be facrificed to this nev/ friend-
fliip, which tl>ey could not, and indeed had no"reafon to
bear with patience, or pafs over in filence.
On the conclufion of this treaty the Oftend company 7his mea^
feemed to be fixed upon fo folld a foundation, that ene- f^^e dif-
mies and friends concluded they were not to be fliaken, 'f'"^^
much lefs ruined and diiTolved, by lefs than a general v/ar ; .Ifff^.*?^'
^ • 1 iri-n- i-- ° ^ the mari-
a tnmg hard or digeition to the maritime powers, who time
were very unwilling to pull down the work of their own po'wers,
hands, and to deflroy that bulwark which, with fo much
difficulty, and expence of blood and treafure, they had
eredled for their own fecurity. On the other hand, they
were no lefs unwilling to fee the commerce of their fub-
jefts torn away by a prince who had never been inverted
with this power of ruining them, but by the pains they
had taken for his prefervation ; but, to return to matters
of fa£l:. The Eaft- India company in Holland were fo
much alarmed with the thoughts of feeing this new com-
pany on a better footing than themfelves, that they could
not forbear once more reprefenting their apprehenfions to
their High Mightinefles, in a memorial that flated clearly
as well his imperial majefty's departure from treaties in
« Corps Univerfclle Diplomatique, torn. viii. part xi. p. 106.
lo^i 114.,
T 2 the
276 ^n Hifler.hal Account &f
the fetting up of a new company in the Auftrian Nethey-
lannds, as his catholic majefly's breach of the fundamental
maxims of theSpanifh monarchy, and his direct violation
of thofe treaties, to the conclufion of which he owed his
crown ^,
New me- At the conclufion of this memorial there was a kind of
morials infinuation couched, indeed in dark and ambiguous terms,
to the ijm- intelligible enough to the penetrating reader, that the
the Dutch company could take no notice of thefe new treaties, in
Eoji India which the States General had no fhare, but muft regulate
company, their condu^l by the old ones, in which they were deter-
mined to be very punftual : but notwithftanding this was
underftood to hint at very vigorous proceedings in the In-
dies, yet it did" not much alarm the two great courts that
now made this new trade a common caufe, neither did it
deter the dire<pLors of the Oftend company from fitting
out more fnips for the Indies, or from making another
call upon their capital, which was, generally fpeaking,
complied with, and by which they were in pofleffion of
three fourths of the whole money fubfcribed, amounting,,
m the whole, to about four hundred and fifty thoufand
pounds of our money. This fpirit mortified the Dutch
Eaft India company exceedingly ; they knew very well,,
that if their hands were at liberty, they could eafily rid
themfelves of their enemies in the Indies, without wait-
ing for the fuppreflion of the company in Europe j but
they were at the fame time fehfible of the bad effedls this
might have, and that the latter, though it v/as plainly the
flower method, was by much the fafeft. They did not
fail, however, to reprefent to the States General, that
while they were deliberating, the Auftrian company vv'ere.
trading, the number of their fhips increafing, their cre-
dit augmenting, and their intereft in the Indies fpreading
daily farther and farther. They infifted, therefore, that
no time was to be loft ; that a? categorical anfwer ought ta
be obtained from the courts of Vienna 'and Madrid; that,
for want of this, their High Mightinefles might be ftill
kept in a ftate of ina£tion, which was all that the protec-
• tors of the Oftend company could defire, fince the laft
call upon their capital would enable them to ere61: fome
good fortrefs in the Indies, where their flag began already
to.be known and refpeded ; fo that, if no way was left of
crufhing them but by force, it ought not to b^ long de-
a Recvieil Hiftorique d'A6}es, Ne^ociations> Memoires, etTrai-
tez, par M, Roaffet, torn. li. p. 199-
layed.
extremi'
ties.
the Oft end Eaft India Company. 277
laye3, fince, if it was, even that method would not
be left =.
What they a;med at by thefe repeated applications was. But their
to engage the States to take into tlieir ferious confidera- ^'^^ .
tion how the Eail India trade was to be preferved, in cafe '^ "'
their negociations ftiould prove, as hitherto they had done,^^/^ indm^
altogether inefFeftual; and alfo, that they might engage m /o ^^-/^a/
them to prefs the two courts fo ciofely, as that they might coming to
be obliged to declare, whether they meant to carry things
to extremities, or were inclined to propofe fome terms
upon which this new company might be fupprefled, that
tliey might know what meafures themfelves were to take,
and what afliltance the republic would expert from them
in a cafe where the commonwealth might be obliged to
rifk its own fafety in defence of thofe privileges which
they had granted to this company. Of the expediency
and even neceffity of taking fome fuch vigorous Itep the
States General were fo fenlible, that they refolved to re-
peat their applications at the courts of Vienna and Madrid,
in order to obtain redrefs^ They were ftrongly feconded
by the courts of London and Paris, who, in the mean
time, confidering how little advantage had hitherto been
obtained by flow and pacific meafures, refolved, if pQiTible,
to quicken them by fome Itep of another kind, which might
convince both the emperor and king of Spain, that they
were not to be frighted with high words, or perfuaded
cnit of their property. They took advantage, therefore,
of the difpoiition the king of Prufha was in, who faw
with fome difpleafure the exorbitant, and, as he con-
ceived, the anti-conllitutional power of the emperor in
Germany, the confequences of which he thought might
be fatal to the prerogatives of himfelf and of other princes,
with which ''notions ftriking in, they concluded a defen-
five treaty at Hanover, dated September 3, 1725; which
treaty was to fubfift for fifteen years, and to which the
States General were to be invited to accede?. Though
there is not the lead mention in this treaty of the Ollend
company, yet, in the fscohd article, it being provided
that the contracting powers guaranty not only each otlier's
dominions, countries, and cities, as well in as out of Eu-
rope, but aifo all their rights, privileges, and advanta;i;e3,
particularly thofe relating to trade, it was well enough
« Recueil Hiftorique (rA.51es, NegociatJons, Memoires, & Trai-
tez, par Rouflet, torn li. p. a^",. f Hiftoricr.l Regilter, vo!. xi,
p. 25. fiCojps Univeiielle Pi^ilomarique, lom. viii. partie ji.
P,-^a7»
T 3 under-
ay 8 An Hjfiorical Account of
underflood, that under this phrafe particularly, the Oftend
company was included, fince it was impoflible it fhould
fo fubfiil, and the contracfling parties preferye their rights
and privileges relating to trade. As foon as this alliance
was concluded, it was not only made known to the States
General at the Hague, but they were likewlfe invited and
prefled to come into it as the mofl efFe^lual, and in-
deed the only way of procuring what they of all other
powers were moft interefted to procure, the abolition of the
new company ; for, while the emperor and the king of
Spain continued fo clofely united, and the reft of the
princes of Europe unconne£l:ed by any counter-alliance,
it was evident they had it in their power to do what they
pleafed, which was likewife vifible they intended to ufe
for many purpofes abfolutely irreconcileable to the intereft
of other princes and ftates ; more efpecially in the cafe of
this company, which ftood now upon fuch a foundation
as muft have enabled it in a few years to have fuftained
itfelf againft any force brought to difturb it, fince never
any eftabliihmentof this kind was pofTeffed of equal ad-
vantages, or fupported by the authority of two fuch po-
tentates.
Arejlanxj But the Dutch, though they could not help acknow-
in refolv' Icging in general terras, the ^ifdom and prudence of the
ingiMhe' treaty of Hanover, yet did not immediately accede to it;
(houldac ^" ^^ contrary, they refolved to try once more the force
cede to the of applications at the court of Madrid. It was with this
treaty of view that they dire£led Mr. Vander Meer, their ambaf-
Hanover, fador at that court, to prefent a micmorial, to demonftrate
the injufticc that was done them by this late treaty with the
emperor, which memorial was aftually prefented one the
4th of November, 1 725, and contained a mofl excellent de-
duftion of their rights under feveral treaties, and a very
ilrong, though fuccin^l reprefentation of the infractions
upon thefe rights, made by the treaty of which they com-
plained. This memorial was fupported by the Englifh
and French minifters, though prefented only by the
Dutch, and though the miniflry dilTembled it as much as
pofiible, yet it was known that fome of the ableft mem-
bers of his catholic majefty's council, m.ade no fcruple of
declaring, that the fa^s laid down in that memorial were
not to be denied ; fo that, from this time, there wanted
not a party in Spain that teftified as great refentment
againft the conceffions in the late treaty of commerce, as
the minifters of the maritime powers. By degrees, this
humour prevailed fo far, that a paper was affixed at th^
gate
the Oftend Eajl India Company. 279
gate of his catholic majefty's minlfter at Rome, containing
thefe words : " The Spanifh nation do hereby promife a
reward of a hundred piftoles to any ingenious perfon who
lliall point out a fmgle article in the three treaties lately
concluded at Vienna, by which they are to be gainers ^.
As foon as the conclufion of the Hanover treaty was re- But not-
ported in the Auftrian Low Countries, the proprietors of y^ithfland-
the Oftend company difcovcred great uneafmefs, upon ^^-^ ^^"» '^J
which their direftors called a general court, and declared oflenFjeli
therein a dividend of the fix per cent, upon their whole ihe weight
capital; though there was ftill a fourth part unpaid. There ofihataili-
is no doubt that this was a very prudent meafure, and well- '^^^^'
timed, but all the effeft it had was to keep their flock from
finking fo fafl as it would otherwifc have done '. The di-
rectors likewife fent more (hips to the Indies, and applied
themfelves with greater earneftnefs than ever to their pro-
testors at Vienna, who gave them all the affiflance in their
power ; and indeed the imperial court for fome time ap-
peared firm in its refolution to fupport an cftabliUmient
that in fo fhort a time had been brought to bear, and the
advantages refulting from which were perfectly M^ell under-
ftood. ^This intelligence, however, was no fooner divulged,
that the Englilli had fent a (Irong fquadron into the Ame-
rican feas, in order to block up the galleons, than all the
politicians began to apprehend that the period was at hand
when the new alliances that had created fo much wonder
throughout Europe, would be gradually broken and dif-
foived, without creating any wonder at all, and therefore
fuch as were cautious, and could find any opportunity,
difpofed of their actions in the new Eaft India company,
in order to place their money in other funds, where, if it
produced lefs, it might be however more fecure. Thefe
precautions, though taken with as much privacy as pof-
fible, operated much to the difadvantage of the Oilend
company, and more efpeclally, as it deprived them of the
advice of fome very able heads at a time when their af-
fiflance v/as become moft neceffary ^.
But whatever might pafs in the cabinets of princes, the ConduSl of
public face of affairs ilill continued to wear a threatning af- ^f^f courts
pe6l, and the two potent confederates, notwithfcanding they ^f y^*^^
fawhow much the game was againfl them, did not haflily ^^^y ^^_'
throw y.^ the cards. On the contrary, the court of Spain -vaards the
States Ge-
h Remarks on the Treaty of Hanover, p. 33. i Mcrcine "^'''^^ on
Hiftorique & Politique, vol. Ixxix. p. 694. ^ Hiftoire des this ireuty,
Indes Ofientalef, torn. iii. p, 71.
T 4 fet
j8o y^>i Hjftorkal Account of
fet a good face upon the matter, entertained the Dutch
minifter at Madrid with the faireft words pofiible, and with
unufuai marks of civility and refpe£l. " He aftefted to make
light of the remonflrances from the French and Englifti
minifters, and actually fent an ambaffador into Holland to
periuade the States General not only to refufe their con-
currence to the Hanover treaty, but even to accede, under
certain reftri£lions, to that of Vienna. The emperor oa
his fide fhewed as great obftinacy, and indeed with more
reafon, for all the articles of the Vienna alliance were en-
tirely in his favour, and the eitabhllnng the Oflend com-
pany in the manner he defigned, was a point of fuch in-
finite confequence, both v/ith refpeft to honour and inter-
eit, that we need not at all wonder that he puihed it on ia
the manner he did, or that he laboured by feveral negoti-
ations in the North to engage moil of the crowns there in
the fupport of his fchemes, in which at firfi: he had extra-
ordinary fuccefs, but by degrees the afpe£l: of affairs wa3
changed, by meafures which we fhall next explain ^
they High The States General, feeing how little they were able to
MighU- effeft by memorials and reprefentations, and beginning to
nvith inef- ^^^^ daily more and more the bad confequences of the efta-
JeBualre^ blifhment of the Oftend compar^y, with regard to their
monjiran- commerce In the Indies^ took at laft a refolution of acced-
m, acceu- j^^g ^q ^^ treaty of Hanover. They did accede according-
\rtah '^ ^^5 ^ ^^P which very clearly demonflrated to the courts of
Vienna and Madrid that it was impoffible to profecute
their dedgns farther without the immediate hazard of a
war "\ Spain feemed refolved to run the rifk, and a6lu^
ally committed hoftilities againft Great Britain, by befieg-
ing Gibraltar, with very little effect, and without any af-
fiitance from the emperor, who on his fide was unable to
make the necefTary provifions for a rupture without receive
ing fuch fupplles from Spain as at that time flie could no^
afford. The court of France remained fleady to her en-
gagements, and appeared fo willing to enter into a war
againfl Spain, in conjunction with the maritim.e powers,
that this court at length began to difiike the fituation flie
was in, and to wifli for reafonable terms. The court of
Vienna percei'ving that Spain began to open her eyes to her
own intereft, and having never had really any inclination
to comply with a certain m^irriage which their catholic
J Recueil Hiftorique d*A5les, Negotiations, Memoires, et Trai-
tez, par Rouflet, torn. iii. p. 151, 158. 314. 357, "> Hifto-t
rical F.egiller, vol. xi, p. 39.
majefties
the Ojlend Eaft India Company. . 281
majeftles had fet their hearts upon, thought Ukewife of a
timely return to her ol'd friends, and of renewing thofe en-
gagements which had been formerly produ£live of fo many
and fo great advantages °.
SECT. V.
Jfter a long Train of Operations and Negociations^ the
Court of Vienna y finding it ahfolutely neceffary to tem-
porize ^ confent to a Sufpenfton of the Company's Char-
ter ^ in Hopes of gaining Time, and availing them-
f elves offome more favourable Conjuncture jor reviving^
and carrying their Scheme into Execution,
'TpHINGS being in this fituation, it was not long before PieVimU
^ preliminaries were fettled, in which there was an ar- ^^riesfet-
tide that took away for the prefent thofe apprehenfions J^^^^^^^ ^
that the fettlement of this company had raifed. It was Paris, by
fome time before it could be fo digefted as to fatisfy all luhich the
parties ; but at length, the preliminaries being ahfolutely commerce
fettled and figned at Paris on the 20th of May, 1727, the ]{lj\^J^\
firft article of them ran thus: " His imperial ard catho- panyisfuf-
lie majefty, having no other view than to contribute to pended,
the public tranquility of Europe, and obferving that the
commerce of Ollend has given birth to jealoufy and unea-
finefs, confents that there fhall be a fufpenfion of the char-
ter of the Oftend company, and of all the traffick between
the Auftrian Netherlands and the Indies during the term
of feven years. By the fifth article of the fame prelimi-
naries it was agreed, that the fhips which failed from Of-
tend before this convention, the names whereof were to
be given in a lift on the part of his imperial majefty, were
to be permitted fafely to return home ; and in cafe any of
them fhould be taken, it was agreed that they ffiould be
bona fide reftored with their cargoes °." This article gave
the decifive blow to the new company at Oftend, notwith-
ftanding the profperous condition in which their affairs
had been affirmed to be in the month of September pre-
ceding, when, in a general aflembly of the proprietors,
the dire£lors had declared, that their laft fale having pro-
duced upwards of five millions of florins, they had placed
n Recueil Kiftorique d'A(5^es, Negotiations, Memoires, et Trai-
tez. par RouflVt, torn. ii. p. 382. *» Corps Uiiiverlelle Di-
^loiuati(jue, tpra, viii, 0. xi. p. 14^.
a part
28t An Hiflorical Account of
a part thereof to the account of their capital, which being
thereby rendered complete, they had no farther demands
upon their fubfcribers, which was therefore looked upon
as equivalent to a dividend of twenty-five per cent p.
On what It may be obfcrved, that the ancient allies of his imperial
reafons the majefty were content, provided they received full fatisfac-
KionT^' tion, that it ihould be given in the gentlefl manner, and in
grounded^ ^^^^ which leaft afFefted the credit and authority of fo great
that the a monarch ; for it is not to be doubted, that though nothing
fupprefion more than a temporary fufpenfion appeared, in the prelimi-
T^d T' "^I'i^s, yet an abfolute fuppreffion of the Oftend company
nvhen \he "^^^ concluded, for nothing lefs could anfwer the ends of
fufpenfion the maritime powers, nor would they have gained any
only oj this thing by this fufpenfion of commerce for feven years, con-
company ficiering what was fliipulated on their fide, but would rather
*lated bv ^"^^^ done their competitors a favour. Whereas, confi-
tnaty. dering it in the other light, and that they relied on the ta-
cit afiurances given them, with which his imperial ma*
jefly afterwards punctually complied, that the commerce
of this company fhould never be reftored to activity, their
concefllon appears to have been well founded, and to have
been a caution neceflary for preventing new jealoufies or
difputes, which it was expedient for both parties to avoid
as much as poffible ; and thus this thorny and perplexed
bufinefs was at length adjufted, which had fo long attract-
ed the attention of all Europe, the emperor preferring the
fecurity of the fuccefilon in his family, and the welfare of
his dominions in general to this favourite projeCl on the
behalf of the Auftrian Low Countries ; as, on the other
hand, the Hanover allies fatisfied in carrying this great
point, were willing to afford his Imperial Majefty, as they
feme time after did, the moft convincing marks of a fia-
cere and thorough reconciliation "J.
VUfaBs There have been, we are very fenfible, accounts very
iaid donvn different from this, in regard to the motives, meafures,
in this ac- ^^^^ \^uc of the Hanover alliance, in which it is fuggefted
the hijiory that the plan of the Eafl Indies was only a plaufible pre-
ofihisfiC' tence ; that the real ends of that alliance were of very lit-
t'lon xnde- tie, if any, importance to the maritime powers ; and that
pendent of j^^ ^^ conclufion, France found her particular interefl bet-
mrgumitits, ^^^ ferved by this treaty than any other power. It would
be much befide our purpofe to enter into this controverfy,
p Mercure Hiftoriqiie & Politique, vol. Ixxxi. p. ^t;?, 359.
q Recueil Hiftorique d'A(5les, Negotiations, Memoires, et Traitez,
parRouffet, torn. v. p. 133, iS4> »35»
which.
the Ofiend Eaft India Company. 283^
wMch, whatever way it turns, will not in any degree af-
fe£l what we have advanced ; to prove v/hich, is indeed
the only reafon that we mentioned it. For whether this
new commerce to the Indies was in itfelf fo directly con-
trary to treaties, or whether the deftroying it was the .
prime ground of Great Britain's entering into this alliance,
are matters which we are not bound to difcufs.
It was not barely attachment to punctilio, and a defire Motives
of having every thincj treated with the preateft decorum, "^'""^^ J"'
, . 1° 1 1 T • 1 ' -a ^ ^1 r n auced ike
that mduced the Imperial mmiiters to procure the firil jniniflers of
point in the preliminaries to mention a fufpenfion oniy ; the court of
though a fuppreihon was really intended of the company Vienna ta
at Oftend, they had feveral other reafons for infilling upon f^o^'^^^
that ftep ; and, as fome of thefe regard our fubje6i, we V^u ^^
ihall mention them. The hopes of fliaring in this lucra-
tive commerce, having brought many rich as well as active
people to intereft themfelves therein, it was held conve-
nient to manage this afrair with much caution, to avoid as
far as poflible, either injuring or difobliging them, towards
which, nothing could contribute more than proceeding
with vifiblcflownefs and relu^tancy on the part of his im-
perial majei*l:y ^ The gaining time in this matter was of
confequence to the imperial minifters in another refpecl,
as it afforded them an opportunity of magnifying the facri-'
fice they had made, and of procuring reciprocal a6ls of
friendftiip from thofe in whofe favour they had made it,
which, in procefs of time, they in a great meafure ac-
compliflied by the fubfequent treaty of Vienna. Laftly>
it afforded them leifure to confider whether, notwithfland-
ing the fuppreffing the company at Oftend, fome other
method might not be found for eilablifhing either that, or
the like beneficial commerce, in fome other part of his
imperial majefty's dominions, where it might not be liable
to thofe formidable objections which had been already
raifed againft this attempt in the Auftrian Netherlands, in
which endeavours, however, they were not very lucky,
though they employed much attention, and fpared no
^ains about It ; and as this likewife has a ftricl connecflicn
with our fubje£l, it will not be amifs to fiiew the nature
of thofe endeavours in a manner as clear and as fuccin6t
as poffible \
T Recuei! Hiftorique d'Afles, Negotiation?, Memoires, et Traj-
tez, par Rouflet, torn. vj. p. 3. » Mercure Hiitorjque et
Politique, torn. Ixxx. p. 630,
SECT.
aS4 An Hijlorical Account of
SECT. VI.
^he Methods taken to fupport the Company ^ and elude
all Stipulations for fuppr effing their Commerce with
the IndieSy by obtaining Pajfports from neutral
FozuerSy and bringing their Cargoes into different
Ports y zvhich protracted Things for fome Time^ but iri
the End proved inejfe^uaL
Aprcjeil 'T^HE places that were thought of upon this occafioii
>r trant' A v/txt Triefte and Fiume, two fmall towns about fifty
this^com- ^"^^^ afunder. The former is fituated in the principality
msrce to ^^ Carniola, at the bottom of a gulf which pafles by the
pms: 9tker fame name, and opens Into that of Venice j the other in
ffirH m his Croatia, upon the gulf of Venice likewife, with feveral
MM'^i iflands before it. The peninfula of lilria lies between
, ^ieeamtcm, them, which belongs to the republic of Venice ; and the
communication through the country behind them is none
of the fafeft or moft convenient. Thefe ports are neither
of them large or commodious; of fome improvements in-
deed they are capable, and thefe have been made, and the
fortifications, which were tolerable, repaired ^ After all^
however, they were but poor places and ill fituated, fo
that it was plain the chief recommendation arofe from
their being the only ports that the emperor had : all the
meafures were pra6tifed that could be devifed to give thefe
little havens an air of importance \ the mole at Triefle was
completed, magazines were eretled, and a man of war
was faid to be put upon the ftocks. At Fiume, the har-
bour was cleanfed, a fort or two were erected in its neigh-
bourhood, and an infpector of marine fent thither. New
privileges wxre granted to the inhabitants; all forts of im-
munities offered to ftrangers who would fettle there ; and>
in a word, every art praStifed that might probably contri-
bute to draw trade to them ; and, as marks ftill of greater
favour, his imperial majcfty, Charles the Sixth, went thi-
ther towards the clofe of the year 1^28, law the man of
war launched at Triefte, and made his public entry into
Fiume, where a triumphal arch was ere£i:ed with a pom-
pous infcription, celebrating his great power by fea as well
;ag land, and complimenting him on his being the protestor
< Geographie Moderne, par Abraham du Bois, p, 189.
tie Oft end Eaft India Company. 285
of commerce, and the guardian of the arts of peace. But
all was ineffedual, the defecls of thefe places were appa-
rent and not to be remedied ; fo that all the rhetoric of the
court of Vienna was thrown away, and fuch of the Oftend
prGJe£lors as embarked in this fcheme, loll feme of their
money, and all their reputation ".
The manufaclories too, that had been ereQ:ed in tlie But^ mi^
duchy of Auftria, and in other of the hereditary dominions, "^^^^and-
hardly fupported themfelves. Thefe difappointments drove ^y„ablTeV-
the undertakers for eftabliftiing an Eaft India commerce, deavoursto
from the imperial court, and leflened very much that at- bring it to ■
tention, which, for fome years, the principal minifters ^^^^-^
had paid to trade ; which they began to confider as a plant ^T''^.^^,
of foreign growth, that would not thrive in any foil where
they could place it : fome of the younger miniilers, how-
ever, began to take a pleafure in confidering thefe fchemes,
and enquiring into the true caufes of their proving always
abortive, which they quickly difcovered to be their intro-
duc\:ion by ftrangers, to whom the people in thofe coun-
tries have a great averfion, the weight of their taxes, and
the bad management of the finances, by which all branches
of public fervice were in arrear, at the fame time that the
fubje£t was exhaufted, and in no capacity of undertaking
any thing that \vould do more than fupply immediate fub-
fiflence. By degrees, as fome of thefe ftatefmen have
rifen in employments, they have made ufe of fuch lights
as thofe enquiries furnifhed, have put many things upon
a better footing, rendered the great roads more ccmmo-
dioiis, and have brought feveral manufactures to bear;
all which ought to be attributed to the memorials that
were prefented by fuch, as if the thing had been practi-
cable, would have repaired the lofs the fubjecls of his im-
perial majefty bad fuftained by the fupprefTion of the com-
pany at Oftend ; and if, in thofe days the court had been
as well difpofed in favour of the people of Hungary as they
are at prefent, fomething might have been done on that
fide more confiderable, while Belgrade was in the hands,
of his imperial majefty, which was very advantageoully
fitnate for carrying on trade with the feveral Chriftian na-
tions that were fubjeCts of the Ottoman empire *. But,
while thefe meafures wei'e taking at Vienna, the directors
of the Oftend company (without his imperial majefty*s
privity) were contriving to keep their commerce ftill on
« Diftionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 295. 2 Matfi.
]ii^ O^us Danubiale, torn, vi. ^ ^
foot
21 8 6 An Hiflorlcal Account of
foot by a variety of methods, which, though they fome-
times promifed fuccefs, in the clofe, however, proved ab-
solutely fruitlefs and ineffedual.
Thedirec' After their firft aftonifhment, occafioned by the fuf-
iors of the penfion of their commerce, thofe who were intruded with
fannhlZ>- the fecrets of the Oflend company began to reflea, that
e-ver\ enter ^^ips had found their way to and from the Eafl Indies
intofchemes without any better proteftion than paflports, before they
for carry \^2iA any charter J and they concluded from thence, that it
tngon their j^jgj^j. ^^^ ^^^^^ impoffible to fend fome veflels thither ftill
by the fame method, and get them back again with the
like fuccefs, provided paflports could be obtained from ■
fome crowned head. Accordingly they formed a proje£i;
vpon this bafis, and, as it is faid that money will purchafe
all things, fo, by the help of that, they found a proprie-
tor and a protexflor for fome of their fhips y. The former
was Mr. Adam Pruner, a rich merchant of Lintz, in
Auftria, who, on certain neceflfary occafions, -was to pafs
for the owner of fhips and cargoes j the latter was the late
king of Poland, from whom the Auftrian merchants pro-
cured a paffport for the St. Therefa, and other fhips, the
names of which are not known. In the Indies the com-
pany had a very able agent at the head of their affairs, one
who had an equal fhare cf intrepidity and induflry, and
who, refiding in the factory on the Ganges, provided lad-
ings for fuch fliips as went thither j and particularly for
two, of which the St. Therefa was one, at the proper
feafon in 1730^. This voyage, though carried on very
fecretly, could not efcape the notice of the Englifh and
Dutch, who, towards the clofe of the month of January,
in the fame year, fent a fquadron under the command of
captain Gosfright, in the Fordwich, to block up the river.
Upon his arrival, he found the two fhips at anchor, upon
which he ordered the Princefs CaroHne to attack them,
and the Duke of York, another (hip under his command,
to fupport him. As foon as the Princefs Caroline was
within reach of the lefler of the two fliips, flie fired a gun,
by which one of the men on board her loll his leg, and
another had his arm broke, and the captain was very near
being killed, who, perceiving that the Duke of York was
preparing to grapple and board her, flruck to the Princefs
Caroline, while his confort flipped and took ihelter under
y Recueil Hiftprique, d'Afles, Negotiations, Memolres et Trai-
tez, torn. viii. p. J03. ^ Mercurc Hiltorique ct Politique,
t'Utn. xci. p« 100.
the
the OJlend Eajl India Company* 287
the cannon of the fa£lory, where it was not thought ex-
pedient at that time to follow and attack her, and ihe af-
ter v/ aids had the good fortune to efcape *.
Upon the bringing the prize to Fort William, fhe ap- ^^^y'^^l^
peared to be the St. Therefa, commanded by captain Do- j^,/ ^^^,^f
minick Braco, but fhe had not taken in above one third of to procure
her lading. Not long after the news of this tranfa61:ion paffports
arrived in Europe, the dire£lors of the Oftend company /''«''« '^<^
procured an appHcation to be made by his Polifh majefly's p7/^7^'w
minifter for the difcharge of this fhip, as having failed PruJJia.
from Europe under his protection, which, however, did _
not fucceed fo well as they expected. This was, in all
probability, the reafon that they had recourfe to anothei'
court, which was that of Pruffia, and obtained from
thence a protection for the Apollo, commanded by cap-
tain Michael Caiefas, of the burthen of four hundred ton,
which paflport was dated at Berlin, on the firft of May,
1 729 ; but, as the blanks for the name and burthen of the
fhip appeared, upon infpe61;ion, to be filled up long after
it was granted, there was great reafon to believe that the
court of Pruffia was not acquainted with the ufe that was
intended to be made of it j. and, that this furreptitious pafs
was conveyed to the commander of that veflel, when he
was homeward bound, by fome of the advice-boats be-
longing to the Oftend company ; but, however it was, this
matter was managed with fuch dexterity and diligence,
that the fecret was never abfolutely difcovered ; but cap-
tain Caiefas, having got this paflport into his hands, a-
vailed himfelf of it, as ithe reader will fee, and thereby "
preferved both fhip and cargo, though not without run-
ning through fome difficulties and dangers ''.
Upon his returning into the feaa of Europe, he hoifted ^'^^/^fj '"
Pruffian colours, and, being obliged to put into a port in ^f ^ V^
Ireland for fhelter, received fuch fuecours as he wanted, Hamburgh
and then continued his voyage for the Elbe. In proceed- their Jiaple^
ing up that river he came to an anchor under the fortrefs andaauai-
of Stade, belonging to his Britannick Majefty, as Eledor ^{i^^[fZ..j
of Hanover, where he paid the port-duties, was received tk\[hL\^
and treated as a Pruffian (liip, and, when he had difpatch-
ed whatever affairs he had there, failed for Hamburgh, in
which port he arrived the 12th of September, 1731*^.
a Extra6l from a private letter, dated at Fort- William in the Bay
of Bengal, Februaiy 26th, 1729-30. ^ Recueil Hiltorique
d'Aites, Negotiations^ Memoires et Traitez, torn. viii. p. 303,
304. c Mercurc Hiltorique et Politique, torn. xci. p. 34a.
The
28fJ An Hiftorical Account of
The directors of the Oftend company, being informed of
the fafe arrival of the Apollo, were tranfported with joy.
In order to revive the drooping fpirits of their proprietors,
they very imprudently gave out, that, notwithftanding they
were deprived of the liberty of fupplying their magazines
in the Netherlands, they would notwithftanding furnifti
all Germany and the North with Eaft India commodities,
and for this purpofe were determined to eftablifh their
ftaple at Hamburgh ; and, in fupport of thefe declara-
tions, they publiflied advertifements in all the gazettes,
of the time when their public fale was to commence in
that city ''. They grounded their hopes of being able to
go through this affair with the fame fuccefs which had
hitherto attended it, upon the great privileges granted by
the empire for encouraging the navigation of the Elbe,
and upon the authority of the free city of Hamburgh, not
doubting that the magiftrates, for the fake of the advan-
tage their citizens would reap from thefe fales, and the
great refort of merchants thither on that account, would
give them all the affiftance in their power; in which hopes,
as the event fhewed, they were not much miftaken, and,
all circumftances confidered, this was certainly as fhrewd
a contrivance as they could poffibly have devifed in the
then defperate {late of their affairs, and ihews that thefe
managers were men of very great abilities, and would have
fullained this traffic if it had been poffible.
Application But the maritime powers forefeeing that the laft mif-
thireupon^ chief would be worfe than the firft, if a fpeedy and ef-
hythe mi- fe£^ual remedy was not applied, agreed upon a joint ap-
^themari- phcation to the magiftrates and fenate of Hamburgh, and
iune accordingly Sir Cyril Wyche, and Mr. Mauritius, the Bri-
fanvers, tifli and Dutch miniftcrs, prefented a memorial conceived
to the re- jj^ vei-y ftrong terms, in which they fet forth, that an in-
Yh7 V terloper, employed in a clandeftine an4 illicit trade, in
direct breach of treaties, had taken fhelter in their port,
and pretended to expert protection and impunity. That
this veffel, called the Apollo, was returned with a cargo
from the Eaft Indies, to- which they had no right to re-
fort ; they therefore iniifted that the veffel ihould be fe-
quellered, and her contents fecured, io that no clandeftine
fale might be niade, before the maritime powers had an
opportunity of difcuffmg this matter with fuch potentates,
as might unexpe6ledly interfere j adding, that they relied
^ See the Mt^niorial of Sir Cyril Wyche, and Mr, Mauritius, in
wbitli lliole ta^ts are affirmed,
upon
theOfiendEafi India Company. , 2§^
upon their compliance, the rather as it would give them
an opportunity of doing juftice to the magillrate and fe-
nate, to their high conftituents, whofe favour it behoved
them to confider, rather than expofe the commerce of their
great and opulent city to imminent dangers in the caufe
of they l^new not who. This memorial was dated the
icth of December, and the magiftrates eafily compre-
hending the importance of this affair, engaged the fenate
to communicate it immediately to the great affembly of
their citizens, who, by the conttitutions of Hamburgh, are
the judges of fuch matter in the laft refort ; and, having
received their fentiments, the refult of them was lignified
on the 1 2th of the fame month, to the Britilh and Dutch
minifters to the following effe£l ^.
That the fenate had been indeed informed, that the fhip Anfnuer
called the Apollo came from China, and was expected fnadetothit
from thence fome time before her arrival \ but that this '^^^"f^^if
vcilel had put into a port in Ireland, had paffed freely of the irri'
through the Britifh channel, had declared whence Ihe was perial city
bound, and her cargo, and had paid duty at the cuftom- ofHam-
houfe of Staden belonging to the king of Great Britain, ^^^&^^* ,
as duke of Bremen and Verden, and had been now three
months in her port, where fhe had delivered moil of her cargo
without interruption or complaint : that in this cafe they
apprehended themfelves not able to comply with what was
defired, but that they hoped their reafons would be fairly
reprefented : that, in the memorial demanding the arrelt
and fequeftration of the fliip and cargo, two points feem
to be laid down *, the firft, that this veffel was not under
any proteftion ; the fecond, that, coming from the Indies,
fhe had no right to anchor in their road : with refpedb to
the firft, the veflel had indubitably a Pruffian paflport,
which had been examined and reipe^ted at Stade, and her
having been three months in their harbour in that quality,
and this fa£l: being publilhed in the gazettes, without any
complaint from tlie court of Pruffia, they could have no
realbn to queftion the fact : that the fenate knew very
well it did not belong to her to decide the rights and pre-
tenfions in queftion between great powers ; and, that as
thefe minifters fuggefted in their memorial, that this point
was to be cleared between their high conftituents and fome
other potentates, that ccnfideration ought, in juftice and
equity, to excufe them from interpoling precipitately, and
X Recueil Hiftorique d'Aftes, Negotiations, Memoires, et Trai-
tcz, toni. viij. p. 307.
Mop. Vol. IX. U thereby
*5'p ^^ Hijlorical Account of
thereby involving themfelves in the dtfpute, not only wijif
his Pruffian majefty, but vi^ith t;hofe other potentates who-
ever they were : that^ as to the fecond point, the Elbe
was a common and free river to the whole Germanic em-*
pire, appertaining to his Imperial majefty as chief of the
empire, and to the ele£lors and princes, more efpecially to
thofe that have territories lying thereon ; that therefore it
is not in the power of the city of Hamburgh to violate the
liberties aad privileges of a river which belongs to the em-
peror and the empire, fince that would be a manifeft de-
parture from her fidelity and duty •, and that, befides, it is^
utterly confiftent with her intcrell and conflitution, her in-
habitants fubfifting entirely by her free commerce, having
a right to admit any fliips whatever into her harbour, not
known to be enemies to the empire, or pirates, fo that fhe
eould not avoid receiving a velfel, having his Pruffian ma-
jeily's paliport, and carrying Pruffian colours *, rriore efpe-
cially, after fhe had been refpe^ted and treated as fuch at
his Britannic majefty's fortrefs and cuflom-houfe atStade;
that, as to the remaining part of the memorial, the fenate^
after the dudes were once paid, never interfered farther
with the cargoes of any ffiips, but left the proprietors of
them to difpofe of them as they thought proper, according
to the ufage of all free-trading cities j fo that, except the
general declaration at the cuftom-houfe, they had no know-
lege whatever of the contents of this veffiel, fo that it was.
abfolutely imprafticable, at the diftance of three months,
to do what was required, more efpecially as it was im-
poffible for them to learn to whom the remains of thefe
goods belonged, or how the property might be changed
by their being fold, pledged, or bartered, not to mention
their being bound by their oath, agreeable to the funda-
mental laws and conflitutions of the city, not to fearch
lioufes, warehoufes, cellars, and other places, appertaining
. to the citizens and inhabitants, unlefs for fome capital
crime ; which, if they fliould attempt, it would be fatal
to what little commerce and trade they had ftill left, and
would be at the fame time fruitlefs, and to no purpofe :
that therefore the honourable fenate befought the envoy
extraordinary Wyche, and the refident Mauritius, to re-
prefent favourably to his Britannic .majefty and to the
States General, the impoffibility of the fenate and city's
complying with the demands contained in their memorial j
and that, on the other hand, the fenate was ready and
willing to do to the ut^Siioft of her fmall power, whatever
may
the'Ojlend Eaft India Company, 291
may contribute to promote and render flourifliing the Bri-
tifli and Dutch commerce in their city.
The magiftrates and fenate of Hambiirgh, the very fame tut, at tht
day that they returned this ^nfwer to the maritime powers, /^^^^ ''^^.
"wrote a letter to the emperor, conceived in very ftrong, '"^^ ^^^^f!-^
but'at the fame time in very refpe£lful terms, fetting forth a|'5^„^„^"
the difficulties they were under, the apprehenfions they hh Impe-
had of incurring the difpleafure of two great powers, and rial Ma-
their inability to avoid this, without breach of their fide- i^'''?>''^ P^^*
lity to the empire, violating the conftitution of the liber- ^ ''"''
ties of their city, and facrificing thofe privileges and im-
munities by which not X)nly its commerce was preferved,
but upon which alfo its very fubfiflence depended ; and
therefore claiming his imperial majefty's interpofition and
protedion, in a cafe of fuch high importance, and as their
fole refource in that peril and perplexity in which they
were ^ : but, before they could receive any anfwer to this
letter, the minifters of the maritime powers prefented an*
other memorial on the 14th of the fame month, conceived
in ftill flronger terms; requiring, that they fhould ufe
their utmoft ende»ivours to preferve the cargo of the
Apollo entire, and that they fliould forbid, or at lead fu-
fpend the public fale advertifcd for the Wednefday follov/-
ing, at the houfe of one Covers, inafmuch as they were
well informed, that thofe goods were not his property,
but belonged to foreigners, and particularly to Dutchmen,
for whom he was only faftor ; that it v^as not the inten-
tion of his Britannic majepLy, or their High Mightineffes,
to offer the leaft wrong or prejudice to the city of Ram*
burgh, or inhabitants, unlefs they drew it upon them-
felves, but was principally deiigned to hinder their own
, fubjefts from carrying on an illicit trade, under colour of
fome foreign proteftion ; and that therefore the magi-
ftrates would eafily comprehend, that In cafe they tolerat-
ed this fale, after this notice, it would become a very fe-
rious affair, fince they dhi not protect therein their own
fubjetls, but thofe of other nations, in the breach of the
laws "of their refpeftive countries *.
To this memorial, thofe to whom It was addreffsd And taking
made a fpeedy and copious reply, flill infifting on the ''^dvantagg
grand privilege of the river Elbe,* the great impropriety of !{.jf J^^?"
junSiure cj
y Lettre du Maglftrat dc Hamboiirg, a PEmpereur, du ii "^^i-' affairs,
cembre, 1731., z Memoire Hiftorique et politique, iom. xci. proce/d t9
p. 553. Recueij hiftorique d'A^es, Negotiations, Memoires, et a fale,
Traitez, torn. viii. p. 310, 320, 321,
U 2 their
2()2 An Hiftorical Account of
their taking upon them to be judges in difputes between
the principal powers in Europe, and the hazard they
Ihouldrun of diibbliging the king of Pruffia, and of being
thought to difkoncur the whole empire, if they pretended
to do what was demanded. They likewife v/rote again to
the emperor on the 19th of the fame month, in terms
more pathetic than before, befeeching him to take fomc
meafures for fecuring their fmking commerce, and to en-
gage the maritime powers not to attempt any thing to the
prejudice of the free navigation of the Elbe, which till now
had never been difputed : but, nctwithitanding all thefe
I memorials, the maritime powers found themfelves in no
fituation to pulh this matter to extremity ; for, foon after,
certain perfons interpofed, of too high rank to be difob-
liged •, fo that, notwithflanding the goods were fold, they
chcfe rather to let the thing be ipun to a great length, and
at lad be eatirely dropped, than to proceed to extremities,
as not knowing how far his Imperial majeily might ^\i\ii
himfelf obliged to fupport the free navigation of the Elbe,
or whether the king of Pruflia might not at length inter-
fere, from a point of honour, in fupport of his iiag, with
whom, at that juncture, it was by no means convenient
to have any difference. In this inilance, therefore, the
Oftend company feemed to prevail ; and the diredors flat-
tered themfelves from thence, that they had fallen upon a
method of carrying on their trade, notwithflanding what
was ftipulated in treaties ; but it wa"^ not long before they
found that his imperial majelty was determined to make
his peace with the maritime powers, at their expence '.
The lading XJpon receiving advice at Oftend of the tim^e when an-
ef another other fliip cf their's, called the Syren, was to return to
^ftntJ^^^ Europe, they took care to fend an advice -boat, with or-
Hambufght ^^^^ to the commander to put into the port of Cadiz ;
U7ider pre- where, on his arrival, he found a French fhip, called the
tence of be- Maria Armand, on board which all the cargo was transi-
tng spanjh fg^j-^a, and the French captain took a bill of lading, im-
f /* ''J' porting, that the goods were the fole property of a Spa-
nifh merchant, and then failed for Hamburgh, where
they had their agents to fell them privately ^, The mari-
time powers, however, had intelligence of the whole tranf-
acftion, and to avoid the inconveniences they had met
with in the former aifair, applied themfelves diredly to
'^ Mcrcure hiftorique et politique, torn. xcii. p. ^56. b Ke-
cneil hi(Mrique d'Adfs, Negociations, Memoijes, et Traitez, par
M. l<.oul]ci, torn, viii. p. 86.
his
the Oft end ^aft India Company. 293
his imperial majefty ; reprefenting, thnt tliefe articles
were direct violations of the treaties which his imperial
majefty had concluded. The emperor, having confidered
this reprefentation maturely, fent his refcript to his mini-
fter at Hamburgh, dated October i, 1732, at Lintz in
Auftria, by which he fignified to the magillrates and fe-
nate, that being informed that the late company at Oflend,
notwithftanding the (ignification of his pleafure, had
caufed a lliip freighted with commodities from the Intfies
to be fent thither, in order to be expofed to fale in that
city, his Imperial majefty being refolved not to permit
either the late company, or any of the fubje6ls of his he-
reditary countries, to carry on an illicit trade, contrary to
treaties, defired that they would not only prevent any fuch
fale, but alfo that they would caufe the goods to be fe-
queftercd *^. The burgomafters and council of Hamburgh,
inftead of complying with this refcript, rem.onftrated, that
upon enquiry it had been made appear to them, that nei-
ther the (hips nor the goods belonged to the Oftend com-
pany, or to any of the fubjefts of his imperial majefty, but
that the fhip was French, and the cargo belonged to a
Spanifti merchant, as might appear by the papers fubjoin-
ed. His imperial majefty, however, was fo well apprifed
of every artifice that had been ufcd, that he peril fted in
his demand ; and this notwitliftanding the Spanifti court
fignified to the agent of Hamburgh at Madrid, that the
cargo of the Maria Armand was Spanifti property.
SECT. VII.
%he Concliifion of this Jffah\ and the total ExtinBion of
the Oftend Company •
AFTERthe fequeftration was made, this affair was His Impe-
■^^ fpun to a great length, no endeavours being fpared to rjnl wa-
get it removed ; but when thefe were found altogether in- hth ^^[er*
efFe£lual, fome overtures were made of another kind \ t"^f^^ ^-^
and at laft things were brought to this conclufion : the ^"'oZe/iQ
magiftrates and fenate of Hamburgh publiftied a decree, in put an end
which they recited, that the Oftend company being abo- loall thrje
lifhed, in conformity to treaties •, and that whereas the P^^^^^'^^*
fale of che cargo of the Apollo, and the arrival and delivery
of the cargo of. the Maria Armand, had given great fuf-
' Mercure hiftorique %X politique, torn, xciii, p. 573. (£74.
U 3 fpicions
*94
Somi
thoughts
have been
fince enter-
tained of
fending
Jhipi to the
Bffi Indies i
An Hiftorkal Account of
picicns and unealmeffes to the maritime powers, at whofc
Iblicitation his Imperial majeily had fignified his pleafure
to them^ that no countenance fliould be given to fuch illicit
trade •, they, therefore, to fhew the honour and refpe£t
they had for his imperial majeily, as well as to remove the
before mentioned fufpicions, direcled their fubjedls, the
prefent circumftances confidered, not to interfere with,
qr to have any thing to do, for the future, with fuch
interlopers. Upon the publication of this decree, the fe-
«5ueIlration was taken off, and the goods in queftion were
privately withdrawn. Thus ended thefe tedious difputes,
and with them the artificial contrivances of the direc-
tors of the Ollend company, to elude the fupprelFion of
their commerce with the Indies, which had given fo
much trouble and difquiet to the maritime pov/ers, and
raifed a fpirit which, though quelled in the Low Coun-
tries, has not, however, ceafed to appear in other parts
of Europe.
When, in confequence of a long train of negotiations,
the grand-duchy of Tufcany came into the poffeffion of the
duke of Lorrain, and that pr-ince efpoufed the heirefs of
the houfe of Auftria, fome new fchemes in favour of
commerce, and even of an Eaft India commerce, came
again under confideration j which, however, were pofl-
poned upon the death of his imperial majeily," on account
of the v/ar which that event produced, and the complai-
fance that it became neceflary to have for the maritime
powers :'yet it is reported, that certain privateers, fitted
out in the havens of one of the maritime pov/ers, had ac-
tually commiffions to make reprifals in the Indies, for fome
injuries done, or faid to be done, to the fubje£ls of his late
imperial majefty,. when they traded there under the fane-
tion of the charter granted to the Eall India company in
the Auftrian Netherlands. What the confequences might
have been, if thofe fliips had reached India, and had made
captures amongft the Moorifh fhips, by virtue of this com-
miffion, cannot with any certainty be affirmed ; but, with-
out doubt, they would not have done either honour or
fervice to the country from whence thofe ftiips were to
have failed ; and where fome notice being given of their
defign, it was very happily prevented.
If the Oftend company had been once efFe61:ually eftab-
lifhed, in all probability the vs^hole Eafl India trade, in lefs
than a century, would have been confined to the Auftrian
Netherlands, and, perhaps, the greateft part of the trade
in. Europe muft liav<; fgUowed it. The Auftrian Low
Countries
OJiend Raft India- Compmiy. 195;
IC^ountries are In themfelves much finer than the provinces
>vhich compofe the Dutch republic, and much better fitu-
ated for trade. Their fales of-Eall India commodities
would have brought prodigious fums of ready money into
thofe provinces ; and this circumftance mull have revived
and reftored thofe manufadures, which formerly flourifli-
€d there more than in any part of Eurojpe, which would
have fecured to them 'all the commerce of Germany, and,
hj degrees, that of the North. In fuch circumltances,
what fhould have hindered their attempting and acquiring
the fifheries ? and, by opening the port of Trielte and
Fiume on the Adriatic, what could have prevented their
engroffing the Italian trade ? It may be laid, that all thefe
are fuppofitions ; but what then ? they are reafonable fup-
pofitions, and, which is much more, they were fuch fup-
pofitions as induced the^ate emperor to eltablifli this com-
pany, and to druggie fo hard as he did for the maintenance
of it ; nay the Dutch, who, beyond a queftion, were the
bed judges in the world of what might be done, and what
could be done, thought all thefe fuppofitions both pofiible
and practicable, which induced them to a£t in the manner
they did. Take then all this together, and it will appear
a very ftrong argument, that the trade of the Eail Indies
is in itfelf the foundation of commerce and maritime power,
at lead in the hands of fuch as know how to manage it ;
and thofe who were intruded with that by the Imperialifts,
fliewed themfelves very capable, in ^svery refpe6l, during
•the few years they were employed.
The great, and indeed the only midake of the projec- Dij^aiitm
tors, was their not being fufficiently verfed in the general °f!!'^^^
fydem of affairs, and the conditions under which his im- ^L°jl^f^p^i
perial majedy held the Low Countries. Their mifcarriage proprietors
taught fome of them more wifdom ; and being perfuaded, into differ^
that the experiment they had already made had removed all f^^p^^t* of
fufpicion that the fcheme was an imprafticable chimera, '^^^^P^'
part of them removed to Copenhagen, in order to graft
^upon the old Danidi company ; and of their fuccefs the
reader has been already informed. Others again thought
of applying to the Swedes, that nation having been for
fome years employed in retrieving their affairs, improving
their lands, raifing new manufadlures, reviving their com-
merce, and redoring their naval power. "What reception
they met with there, and how, by degrees, they brought
their defign to be relifhed and countenanced by the court,
and fupported by people who had money, whether Swedes
^r foreigners^ will be the bufinefs of the next chapter, in
xj 4 which
296 ^e Hijiory of the
which we fhall prefent the reader with the hiftory of this
new company, which was but the other day the youngeft
in Europe.
OoaooOooooOooooOeoooOaoooOooooOooooO^owOcooeOcoooOooooOooooOosooCooesOoeooOeosoOoo^eO
CHAP. XXXVIL
liijlory of the Company ejlablifloedfor carrying on
a Commerce to the Eaji hidies from Sweden.
SECT. I.
I'he Swedes, for many Jges, inattentive to Commerce^
and to the Arts of Peace ; but at length come to
form a right Notion of their Importance ; and, upon
an Application and due Information as to the Benefits
of the Raft India Commerce, a Charter is granted^ in
the amplejl Form, for the Advantage and Encourage^
mentofthe Proprietors.
The com- f b ^HE martial difpofition of the Swedes, and the wars
tnerce of J|^ almoft continual in which they were engaged, either
mited and '^^ ^^'fence of their freedom at home, or in purluit of glory
'Very incon- abroad, hindered them, for many ages, from making any
Jiderable figure at fea, though few nations were better qualified in
for many ^\ refpecls. The fituation of their country, which has a
'^^^^* long extent of coaft ; with feveral good ports, and many
more that might be made fo ; the vaft abundance of tim-
ber, as proper as any in the world for fliipping ; their great
plenty of all other naval ftores ; the large quantities of ex-
- . cellent iron, which the mines produce ; and, above all,
the good underftandings, calm and determined courage,
and cool temper of their minds, joined to the acflive and
, robufl bodies of their people, gave them vafl advantages ^.
With -all thefe, they contented themfelves with fifhing
upon their own coafls, exporting their commiOditie?, chiefly
/ iron and copper, to Dantzick, or to Bremen at fartheft ;
maintaining, however, a tolerable naval force, in which,
as often as occalion required, they fliewed themfelves both
brave and Ikilful feamen. The chief reafon of their being
d Hiftoire de Suede, torn. iii. p. 412.
thus
Ball India Company ejlahllped in Sweden. 297
thus confined in their commercial correfpondenc-e, was in
part their natural frugality and love of their own country,
but chiefly the addrefs of the hanfe towns, the traders of
which bought up and exported Swedifh commodities into
foreign countries, where, for a long time, they were not
known fo much as to come from Sweden " ; till at length
the Englifh and the Dutch fent {hips to Stockholm, and in
procefs of time their wars in Germany, and the fettling
amongfl: them many thoufands of Scots brought them to
have more extended notions of trade, and to take fuch
meafures as had a tendency to increafe and render it more
beneficial, in which they were fuccefsful in fome degree,
but not in any proportion to what they might have been,
if their affairs had been in that refpe6l rightly conduced.
Yet, as their native commodities were valuable and necef-
fary to other nations, and themfelves in thofe days very
frugal, what trade they had turned to account ^
Guftavus Adolphus, one of the greatcft princes that ever Gufia-vus
reigned in Sweden, or perhaps in any other country, had A^^^ph"^
very early views in favour of the commerce of hi.s fubjecls; c^/^^ii^l^"
and even while he was engaged in the war with Poland, y7,y7/Aoa^^^
formed the firft defign of opening a paiTage for them to the oj extend-
Eaft Indies, to which he invited fuch as were defirous of '''^ '^»
reaping a fliare in the profits of this advantageous com-
merce by his letters patent, dated at Stockholm, June the
14th, 1626^', but the wars in Germany which followed
foon after, and engrofied his attention during the remain-
ing part of his reign, hindered in all probability that de-
fign from taking any efFe£l. His daughter, the celebrated
queen Chriftina, was alfo very defirous of promoting the
glory and welfare of Sweden in this refpe6l ; that is, in
regard to its trade, and with this view proje«5led a fettle-
ment upon the coaft of Guinea, and the eftablifliing colo-
nies in the Weft Indies, and in fome degree fucceeded in
both ; but the Dutch, always attentive to their own in-
terefts, taking advantage of the circumftancesof the times,
foon worked the Swedes out of thefe eftablifiiments, and
converted them to their own ufe. There are, however,
ftlll fome remains of the latter in the Englifii province of
New Jerfey, in North America, recovered from the Dutch,
where the defcendants are yet remaining of the inhabi-
tants of three Swedifh towns, in which confifled their
c Bifliop Robin Ton's Account of Sweden, chan. xiv. f Re-
flexions fur le Commerce de Suede. i Di6lionarie de Com-
merce, torn. ii. col. 1145.
plantation
2p8 The Rijlory of the
plantation in thofe parts ^. Thefe difcouragcments, toge-
ther with the fucceeding wars againft the Danes aiid'Poles,
took from them all thoughts of renewing their endeavours
to benefit themfelves, in this way ; forefeeing that wher-r
ever they attempted to fettle, their title might be quef-
tioned, and their plantations overthrown by fome other
European ftronger at fea, and confequently better able
to funport their claims, whether well or ill founded.
ItsdeeJen- While the Swedes remained clofely attached to France,
"t^ard'j ^^ confequence of the fubfidies their monarchs received
she caufes ^^^"^ ^^^^^ crown, and the penfions apd other favours con-
ihereoj tX' ferred on their nobility, their councils were abfolutely
plamed. guided by the views of the court of Verfaiiles.j and while
they were totally occupied with the defire of glory and the
thirft of ambition, they exhaufted their dominions both of
men and money, in hopes of extendhig their conquefts,
inflead of labouring to improve their country or enlarge
their commerce ^ Charles the Eleventh, indeed, in the.
latter part of his reign, h^ad other views, and acted upon
a very diilerent plan, W'hic^, however advantageous to the
crown, was in many refpeiSls detrimental to the fubje£l:.'
He it was who formed the plan of malcing himfelf, from a-
very limited king, an abfoluce monarch in Sweden, in
which he fucceeded, by gaining the confidence of the com-,
mon people, adminhlering juitice impartially, reprefling
the infolence of the nobility, and laying open the corrup-
tions that had been pra£lifed in the alTemblies of the flates.;
Something however he did for the trade of his fubje<£i:s,
and more he would have done if he had lived ; for he was a
prince who knew that to make a rich king there muft be a
rich people, and therefore he put many things upon a new
foot, encouraged his fubjetls to manage their own traffick,
and did whatever he apprehended might contribute to-
wards refcuing them out of the hands of foreigners, and
engaging them to tranfport their goods 2^\\^ manufactures -
in their own bottoms ^. But the minority which follow-
ed upon his death, made way for cancelling, or, at leaft,
neglecling thefe benefits: and his fon, Charles the Twelfth,
being never out of the field after he was old enough to
take it, whatever he did to raife his own charaCler, as a
hero, certainly did little towards promoting the welfare of
. his fubjedts, fince, at the clofe of his reign, Sweden was'
fo much exhaufted, that there was hai;dly any but old men
^ Bririfl^ Empire in A'rerica, vol. \. p. jaS. * Bifliop
Robinroii's Actount of Sweden, cha^), i)f. k Vie de Cliaries XI.
and
Eaft India Company ejtahllfhed in Sweden, 299
and boys left in the country, which was impoverifhed to
the laft degree. Her trade and naval power were fallen
much below what it had ever been j to fay nothing of the
lofs of fome of her fined provinces, from whence fhe drew '
many of the molt valuable commodities that maintained
her commerce '. -
But after the peace with Ruflia was made, and the late Whence the
king, then landgrave of HelTe, was placed on the throne S'weJes
by ele£lion, new meafures were purfued, and experience '^^''^ '*"«'*
and neceffity, which are able miftrefles, taught the Swedes '^their^oie'wt
that the welfare and honour of a country might be fup- to aim at
ported, though every man in it was not a foldier. The cultivating
ftates being reftored to their authority, endeavoured to '^^ '''"'■^ ^
make all ranks of people comprehend what a real blefTing r^^^^*
liberty was, and how foon the affairs of a country might
be retrieved, even in the mod diftrelled circumftances,
when every man in his fphere, exerted himfelf for the
good of the community "". The grievances introduced
under the late reign were redrefled, feveral abufes, that
had crept in under plaufible pretences, M^ere removed, and
the weight of taxes was as much foftened as the circum-
ftances of the government would permit ". Befides thefe,
many other remedies were applied ; new methods of agri-
culture were put to the trial for the improvement of the
foil ; a variety of machines invented to mitigate the labour
of fuch as were employed in the mines -, new manufac-
tures erecSled ; encouragement given to ftrangers ; and, in
fhort, every polhble method was pradlifed that might give
a new face to affairs. Thefe endeavours had quickly good
effects ; and, amongft others, they produced an active
fpirit of induftry, (harpened by emulation -, and every man
who had an opportunity, ftriving to diftinguifh himfelf as
far as he was able, both in afting and thinking for the
public benefit, as it ftood conne£led with the method in
which he purfued his own private advantage ; and this was
the fituation Sweden was in at the time of the fufpenfion
of the Oftend company, by which a number of bufy and
able men were thrown out of employment, and left under
a variety of difcouragements to feek it where they could °.
Encouraged by this and other coinciding circumftances. At what
one Mr. Henry Koning, an eminent merchant at Stock- ^'^^^> ^^^
holm, formed the fcheme of eftabliftiing an Eaft India ^'''" '^''''^
° motives,
their Eaji
I Hiftoire de Suede^ tom. iii. p. 195. m Etat de SaeHc;, India com-
P- 39' " Hiftoire de Suede, torn. iii. p. jyi. o Re- panywas
flexions fur le Commerce de Suede. erected.
ccm;.-ny
30O The Wfiory of the
company in Sweden. He reprefented to the king and Kis
miniftersj that there were various parts of Afia and Africa
to which an advantageous commerce might be carried on,
without infringing treaties, or breaking in upon the trade
of other nations; that this was what Sweden had a right to
at all times, but that there never was a juncture in which
flie mijiht avail herfelf of that right with fo much facility as
at prefent-, that it was impofiible to undertake an enterprize
of this nature without the afliftance of foreigners, as well
in contributing to the expence with which it would be ne-
ceffarily attended, as in entering into a fervice tbat the
Swedes were as yet unacquainted with ; that many who
had in time withdrawn their money out of the Oftend com-
pany were defirous of employing it elfewhere, more efpe-
cially if it could be done with fecrecy *, and that there
might be eafily found perfons every v/ay capable of con-
dueling fuch a defign in its infancy, if the feafon was not
let flip, Thefe arguments had their weight, more efpe-
cially, wlien, upon due examination, Mr. Koning made
it appear to the college of commerce, or, to ufe our own
phrafe, the board of trade, that he had advanced nothing
which it was not wholly in his power to make good. Upon
mature deliberation, therefore, his propofal was accepted,
and his Swedifh majefty, by and with the advice of the fe-
nate, granted him a charter for his new company, dated
June the T4th, 1731 p, precifely one hundred and five
years after the letters patent of Guflavus Adolphus for the
like purpofe.
Ine fub- The king thereby concedes to Henry Koning, and his af-
jiattce of iht fociates, the liberty of navigating and trading to the Eail
royal char- i^^^^^ for fifteen years, with the inhabitants of all coun-
%' a India ^^'^^^ ^^'^^ beyond the Cape of Good Hope to the iflands of
caMpany. Japan, wherever they fiiall think proper or convenient ;
with this fingle reftriAion, that they fliall not trade in any
port belonging to any prince or fi:ate in Europe without
free leave firfl bad and obtained. The fiiips employed in
this commerce fliall confiantly take in their lading at Got-
tenburg, to which port they'fhall return with all the mer-
chandize they bring from the Eaft Indies, and caufe the
fame to be publicly fold as foon as conveniently they can.
77ie faid Henry Koning and company fhall pay to tbe
crown of Sweden during the faid fifteen years, one hun-
V Supplement au Corps Diplomatique des Droits des Gens, torn,
it. pariieit. p. 301;. Hiftoire de Suede, torn. iii. p. 257. Rouflet,
Kecacil liiftorlque d'A(S\es, kc torn. viii. p. 343.
dred
Eaji India Company eftahlijhed in Sweden.
<!ped daiers per lait for every ihlp tliey employ, fuch lliips
being meafured before their departure from Gottenburgkj
which money is to be paid within fix days after the lafe
return of the faid Ihip from the Indies ; and they lliall Hke-
wife pay two dakrs per laft, in full fatisfadl:ion for the
town duties^ The faid Henry Koning and company may ^
employ, equip, and arm, as many vefiels as they fliall
think proper, provided thof^ velTeis are built or bought in
Sweden, and whatever elfe is neceflary for equipping and
furniiliitig them be had in the Swedilh dominions. But
in cafe this fhould be found at any time impra'flicable,
then the company may provide themfelves with fhips, or
whatever elfe fhall be found requifite for their commerce,
wherever they (liall think fit ; provided always that thej
give the preference to, and promote as far as in them
lies, the building, manufa6lures, and produce of Swe-
den. The faid (hips fhail carry the Swedilh flag, and
ihall be furnifhed with paiTports undei- the king's hand, as
alio from the republic of Algiers. The faid company Ihall
be at liberty to raife what fum they think fit for carrying
on their commerce, by voluntary fubfcription, or other-
wife, as they Ihall think proper ; and fuch as fhali become
fubfcribers, Ihall be obliged to pay in their money at the
times prefcribed, on pain of forfeiting their iutereft in the
faid commerce.
The company may tranfport what ordnance or fmall arms
they think proper, as alfo filver coined, or uncoined, Swedifli
money only excepted, and may likewife bring from the In-
dies what kind of goods or manufactures they think fit,
w-ithoat any reftriilion ; the vefiels of the company, when
freighted and ready to fail, Ihall not be flopped or hinder-
ed on any pretence whatever-, nor fhall they at their re-
turn be impeded from entering into the port to which they
are configned. The goods of the laid company may be
tranfported at their pleafure from place to place within his
Sv/edilh majefty's dominions, being firft furniilied with
proper paflports, without paying any other duties than thofe
before ftipulated- The captains or the company's {hips
Oiall have the like powers for maintaining difcipline amongft,
their crews as the captains of the king's (hips , and, with
refpe6l to trade, they ihall conform to the inftruiSlions
given by Henry Koning and company, provided always
thofe initruftions are not repugnant to the privileges grant-
ed by this charter. The fcamen and foldiers entered on
board the company's fhips ih?A\ not be liable to be prelled
into the king's or any other fervice •, and, on the other
hand, it fhall not be lawful for the company to take into
their
302 The H'fftory of the
their fervice afty who fhall have defeated that of the crown*
The feamen and foldiers belonging to the fhips in the com-
pany's fervice, arid deferting from it, may be apprehended
and detained, but according to the ufual forms of law,
and by the hands of the proper officers. The fhips be-
longing "to the company being returned, and entered,
having the merchandize on board them, the goods fliail be
duty-free, except only a very fmall acknowlegement to be
paid on removing them.
The perfons a6ling under this character {hall conftanfly
chufe out of their own number at leail three direftors, who
(hall be all men of diftinguifhed probity and known abili-
ties, of which Henry Koning fhall be one ; and in cafe of
his demife, the members of the company are direfted and
impowered to make choice of another perfon in his (lead,
provided always that thefe three directors be natives of the
kingdom of Sweden, or, at lead, naturalized Swedes,
Proteftants, and refident in the king's dominions, unlefs
neceffarily abfent in foreign parts for the fervice of the
company, in which cafe the proprietors may fubltitute an-
other direftor at home. The faid Henry Korting, and his
aflbciates, may make fuch regulations for the management
of their commerce as they fhall think proper, provided they
be agreeable to this charter. They fliail render a faithful
. account to all the perfons interefted, as well of the profits
and loifes as of'the capital of the faid company ; but they
fnall not be obliged to difcover the names of their fub-
^ fcribers, 'or the fums they fubfcribed ; nor fhall they
be obliged to produce or fufter their books to be inf-
pecled on any pretence whatfoever. In cafe any of the di-
rectors fhall find that the refl betray their fecrets, or are
guilty of any other fraud or mifdemeanor, they may apply
to the board of trade for juftice and reparation, and, upon
due proof, fuch offender fhall be fufpended or degraded
from his office of direCtor, and the company fhall be at
liberty to chufe another in his room.
In like manner, if any of the proprietors fhall find that
Henry Koning, and the refl of the dire£lors betray their
trufl, or are guilty of any frauds, they may make the
fame application, and obtain the fame redrefs. The faid
Henry Koning and company, may employ what number
of fupercargoes, officers, mariners, or foldiers, they fhall
think fit, either Swedes or foreigners, who, on their be-
ing fo employed, ihall enjoy the fame privileges as if they
were born Swedes, and the money employed, either by
natives or foreigners, in the capital of the company, fhall
not be liable to any floppage or feizure. Such perfons as
arc
Eaft India Company ejiahli/hed in Szveden, 20 j
are interefted in, or employed by the company, (hall be
naturalized according to their refpe^Slive qualities, upon
their applying themlelves to the king for that purpofe.
The faid Henry Koning and company, and fuch as are
authorized or employed by them, in cafe they are mo-
lefted or difturbed in their commerce by any perfon, or
in any part of the world whatever, fliali have full power
from his majefty to obtain ample juftice #and fatisfadlion
by all convenient methods, and fhall be at liberty to oppofe
force by force, and to confider fuch difturbers as pirates
;ind enemies \o the pubhc peace- His majelly will grant
them thefe powers, efpecially in fuch com.millions as their
captains fhali receive •, and in cafe notwithftanding they
fliould be attacked, and fufFer any injuiy or injuftice from
any nation whatever in the carrying on of this commerce,
his majefty, upon due inform.ation thereof, will grant
them his high protection, and will endeavour to procure
for them fpeedy and ample fatisfa£ti'on, either by way of
reprifal, or other wife. The reft of the fubje6ts of the
crOwn of Sweden are exprefsly prohibited and forbid to
engage in, or interfere with the tradc^ of the faid com-
pany, under pain of his majefty's high difpleafure, and
the confifcation of their vefTels and' effeds. The king
promifes to alter or augment thefe privileges upon appli-
cation from the company, as often and in fuch a manner
as fliall be found necelTary for promoting tlie trade to the
Eaft Indies, and the intereft of the perfons concerned
therein.
The reader will perceive that the powers contained in ^^, ^^^-^
this charter, are fuch as concern commerce abroach and iy^rument
are not calculated to give the company, or its diredors, is efteemed
too much power at home, becaufe it fubje6ls them to the one of the
college of commerce ; which confifts of the prefident of ^^*
the treafury and four counfellors, who hear and de-
termine whatever comes before them in a fummary
M'ay, according to the laws of the kingdom and the
general maxims oL equity *J. There were great expeda-
tions formed of this company for various reafons : becaufe
they had all the powers granted them that they could rea-
fonably expect or defire j becaufe they were not limited
in their capital, but allowed to raife fuch fums, and in
fuch manner^ as they {hall efteem moft for their benefit ;
q Octroy accrode par le Roy de Suede, pour PErefiiion d'une
Ccmpagnie des Indes, dans fes Etats, art. xv. Corps Diplomatique
.^u Droit des Gens, torn. ii. partie ii. p. 305,
becaufe
304. ^^s Hijlory of the
becaufe they were prohibited from interfering with the
commerce of other nations, and thereby running them-
felves and rlieir country into difficulties and difputes •, be-
caufe they had the king's protection fecured to them in fuch
a manner, and for fuch purpofes, as might ferve to anfwer
all good ends, without involving the crown of Sweden in
any controverfies wdth the maritime powers, or any other
of her allies ; and, laftly, becaufe, from the nature of
the conftitution in Sweden, there feemed to be as high
fecurity for the properties of fuch as interefled themfelves
in this affair as in, any other country whatever. It is not,
therefore, difficult to conceive, that the capital was quickly
fubfcribed, and fuch a proportion of it raifed, as enabled
the directors to make the neceffiary difpofitions for dif-
patching two fhips to the Indies.
Ws 5<we
dijh ma-
jefigi'ves
natice of
this char-
ter to the
States Ge
neraL
SECT. 11.
Condi'M of the SwediJJj Monarch, and of the Nation^ in
fiippQYthig this EJiablfJJrment,
- A »^ foon as this charter was granted, his Swedifli ma-
^^ jefly diredted his minifter at the Hague to prefent a
memorial to their High Mightineffes the States General,
fignifying that his majefty had thought fit to ere£l fuch a
company in his dominions, and that, at the fame time,
they were reflrained exprefsly by their charter from in-
terfering with, or difturbing the trade of any Chriftian
nation whatever in thofe parts ; and that he chofe to in-
form their High Mightineffes thereof^ that fuch as were
employed in the Swedifli company's fervice, might not
be treated by any of their fubjefts in the Indies as people
belonging to they knew not who, but as a6ling under the
authority of a prince in alliance and friendfiiip with their
lepublic, a free and independent king, who had an un-
queftionable right to make ufe of his power for the benefit
of thofe he governed. This memorial was accordingly
prefented July 18, 173', but no anfwer being returned to
it by the States, the Swedilh minifter, by direction from,
his court, prefented another memorial on the 31ft of Oc-
tober following J in which he let forth, that the king, by
eftahlifliing this company, intended to confult the welfare
of his own fubje£ls, without prejudice to thofe of any
other prince or ftate whatever j and that he was particu-
larly careful to avoid giving any juft caufe of offence tr
ihcir
Eaft India Company eftahlifjjcd in Sweden. 005
tlieir Higli Mightinefles 5 that, as in the tonrfe of fo
long a voyage, the veflels in the fervice of the Swe-
difh company might be obliged by diftrefs of weather,
ot other accidents, to take fhelter in the ports or roads of
fome of the Dutch fettlements in the Eaft Indies, in which
cafe he hoped they would receive the fame tcftimonies ^
of kindnefs and humanity as they were accuftomed to ^
fhew to other European nations, fuch as the French, Eng-
Itfli, and Danes ; that his majefty had exprefsly dire^^ed,
that the mafters of thofe fhips, in fuch cafes, fhould pay-
in ready money for whatever fuccours they received, and
fhould not prefume to enter into any kind of commerce ;
and fhould, upon thefe and all other occafions, whether
in the open fea, or in any port or road, behave in every
refpecl to the ftiips and fubjefts of their High Mighti-
nefles as became them towards the good friends and allies
of the king their mafter *, and that his majefty perfuaded
himfelf, that their High Mightinefles, from the fame
principles of equity and friendfhip, would direct their
fubjecis in the Indies to treat the Swedes upon the fame
foot ; and that his majefty had farther commanded him
to aflure them, that as he had nothing more at heart than
to cultivate the good correfporidence, and to augment the
harmony fubfllling between him and their High Mighti-
nefl^es, fo nothing could be more agreeable to him than an
opportunity of fhewing their High Mightineflfes, or their
fubjecis, marks of his flncere aflredlion and good will ; and
that, the premifes confidered, he hoped to receive their
favourable refolution thereupon.
The States General, finding it abfolutely neceflary, as l^helr an-
well in regard to their intereft as with refpeft to decency, f'^'^fto the
to give an anfwer to thefe memorials, couched it in the '^^^^/^l^j
following terms ^ The king of Sweden will always find on this oc
their High PvUghtinefles difpofed to the moft ftri61: friend- cafion.
fhip with him ; but as his majefty cannot be ignorant that
the company eftabliflied in his dominions for carrying on
the commerce to the Eaft Indies, muft be prejudicial to the
interefts of that long (ince eftablifhed under their protec-
tion, he c%hnbt expe6l that they fiiould favour this new
company, though they are at all times v/illing to afPbrd
fuccours to his Swedifli majefty's fubjecls. This dry anf.ver
was, in all probability, fuch as the court of Sweden ex-
t Mercnre Hiftorique et Politique, torn, xct. p. 80. RoufTet
Recueil Hiftorique U'Ai^es, Negociations, &c- torn. vii. p. 359^
Mod. Vol. IX. X peaedj
$o6
Two /hips
builtfor
this trade
by the
Siveaijb
Eafi India
£9m^any.
?& Hijlory of the
pe£ted •, but however, as nothing contained in it derogat-
ed in the leaft from his majefty's authority, or from hi*
right of employing this, or any other method that he
thought proper, for the benefit of his fubjedls, it did not
in the leaft retard the preparations made for fending two
{hips direftly for Chiiia ; on the contrary,, it raifed the
fpirits of thofe concerned, who, expecting no afliftance^
were fatisfied if they met with no oppofition.
In compliance, therefore, with their charter, the "di-
rectors of the Swedifh Eaft India company caufed two
new {hips to be built,, one of which was called the Fre-
deric King of Sweden j and the other, in honour of the
queen, the Ulrica, very ftrong and complete, of proper
force, and every way fit for the expedition in which they
were to be employed ". They proceeded with the like
caution and diligence in the choice of the perfons who
were to be employed in all ftations, as alfo in their feamen^
and very fortunate they were in both refpe£ls 5 fo that,
by the time thefe vefiels failed from the harbour of Got-
tenburgh, the lentiments of thofe who attended to things-
of this nature were very much changed, and notwith-
Handing the length of the voyage, the want of fettle-
ments where they might touch for refrefhment, and other
vifible difad vantages under which this new company la-
boured, and which were thought fcarce fiirmountable, it
was generally believed they would make the voyage with
fuccefs, more efpecially as there was not now the leaft ap-
prehenfion of their ^ meeting with any hindrance or ill
ufage from other nations.
About the time when one or both of thefe fliips were
^hemfeized expeCted to return into the ports of Sweden, Mr» Henry
in their re- Koning received a letter, brought by fome of the Euro-
turn from p^an fhipping, from Mr. Colin Campbell,, who was vefted
with a public character from his Swedifh tnajefty to the
crxiperor of China, and other fovereign princes of the Eaft^
and had alfo from the company the charge of fupercargo
on board the Frederic King of Sweden ; by which letter
he acquainted him., that when, in their return from
China, they were about to enter the ftreights ,of Sonda,
they faw feven ihips lying at anchor, w^hich, as foon as
they defcried the Frederic, weighed and put to fea : the
Frederick endeavoured to get the wind, and to get through
the ftreights, but was unluckily prevented by the fetting
of the current, v/hich obliged them to come to an anchor-
One of
C/ii/ia.
Mercure Hiftorique & Politique, tcra. xci. p. 691, 692.
Upon
Kafl India Company ejlahlijhed in Sweden. joj^
XTpon this Mr. Bremer was fent on board the commodore^
(for the feven fliips now came down upon them with
Dutch colours difplayed), and carried with him copies o£
their pafTports. The commodore detained Bremer, the
fhallop, and all that were in it, and continued to beat
down upon the Frederick ; and, upon their coming near,
the commodore fired a gun to oblige them to ftrike. Next
day, in the morning, he fent on board for the captain,
and ordered him to bring his pafTports and commiihon,
■which order he was obliged to obey ; then the Dutch
called a council, in which a refolution was taken to oblige
a part of the Swedifh crew to quit their fhip, a proper
number of Dutch feamen being fent in their room ; and
in the afternoon they took out the reft of the crew, leav-
ing only the captain, Mr. Campbell, and twelve perfons.
The laft mentioned gentleman, upon this, drew up a
proteft, which he fent inclofed in a letter to the commo-
dore, infifting upon the aftront offered to his Swedifh
majefty's flag, the breach of the law of nations in his own
perfon, he being vefted with a public chara61:er, and the
violation of the treaties fubfifting between the republic
and the crown of Sweden. As this proteft was written in
the Swedifh language, the commodore alleged that he
could not underftand it ; but the fupercargoes, who were
prefent, explained it to him ; upon which he, and the
reft of the officers faid, that no part of thefe proceedings
ought to be imputed to them; they having orders to do
all that they had done from their fuperiors ; which orders
they fhould have been obliged to obey, if the king of
Sweden had been there in perfon. That their orders •
were to carry the veflel to Batavia, where they did not
doubt the affair would be thoroughly examined, and the
fhip fuffered to proceed in her voyage in a few days.
Upon the communication of this letter to the court, his The S*voe»
Swedifh majefty fent, orders to his minifter at the Hague dijbmlnif-^
to prefent a memorial to the States General, with the co- ^'^'^ ^om-
py of the letter annexed j which he accordingly did, Au- \^^i^lfLf^
guft the I ith, 1733 ^. In this memorial hcexprefTed the
furprize his Majeiiy was in at the unjuft and violent pro-
ceedings in the Indies, fo contrary to the friendfliip and
good intelligence which their High Mightineffes had afTur-
ed the king they would always maintain towards his ma-
jefty and his fubjeds j that this was increafed from the
w RoulTet, Recueil Hiftorique d'A6tes, Negociations, &c. torn,
fiii. p 360.
X 2 confe-
3o8 The Hiftory of the
confcquencc of the memorials formerly prefented j in an~
fwer to which, they did not pretend to difpute his majef-
ty's right, though they declared they could not favour that
company 5 that therefore his majelly could not apprehend
that they had any doubt of this being a Swedifh company^
and properly authorized, though polBbly in this, as in
their own and all other companies, foreigners might have
fome concern j that there was not the fmalleft pretence of
his fubje£ls having exceeded their powers, or done any
thing contrary to treaties ; that therefore this proceeding,
fo diiobliging, and which was in efFecl treating him and
his fubjedls as enemies, could not but be very offenfive to
his Swedilh majefty, more efpecially, confidering the lit-
tle refpeft fliewn to a perfon veiled with the charafter of
his miniller plenipotentiary, and whofe perfon ought there-
fore to have been efleemed facred by the law of nations.
That, notwithftanding the harfhnefs of this action, his
majelly had flill fo high an idea of their High Mightinef-
fes, as not barely to believe they gave no orders for the
excefles committed on his majeily's fliip the King of Swe-
den ; but was alfo perfuaded that their High MightinelTes,
in cafe it was not already done, would order without the
leaft delay the faid Swedifh fliip, her cargo, and equipage,
to be releafed ; and alfo give a jufl, full, and proportionate
fatisfa61:ion for the indignity offered to the king and king-
dom, by the infult done to his minifter plenipotentiary, as
well as repair whatever lofs the Swedifii Eafl India com-
pany had received; and that his majefty farther com-
manded him to reprefent and require, that their High
Mightinefles would inftantly fend their orders that the
other Swedifh fhip, called the Ulrica Eleanora, may re-
turn from the Eaft Indies freely, without impediment or
injury from the fubje6ls of the republic, his majefty be-
ing firmly refolvcd to protect and maintain his fubjedls in
the enjoyment of the privileges granted them by his char-
ter for eftablilliing a commerce to the Indies.
Inanftuer The States perceiving, by the language of this memo-
ry wliich rial, that this was like to become a very ferious affair, and
the Eajl unwilling to be fufpe6ted of having the leaft knowledge of
^"'^"^atid' ^^^^^ ^ tranfa£lion, fent immediately to the board of Eaflj
theHtates India dire£tors to know what it was that had given occa-
Jefiy any fion to the regency at Batavia to a£t in this manner : the
fuch orders* directors replied, that they had fent no order relative tot-
any fuch tranfadtion as that of which the crown of Swe*
den complained ; and, they farther believed the regency
at Batavia was too prudent to uike any fuch ftep without
exprefs
Eajl India Company eftahlifJoed in Szveden. 309
exprefs orders ; but that, however, their lad letters were
of the 8th of September, 1732; in which there being
no mention at all of any fuch thing, it was impoliible for
them to give their High Mightinclles any farther hghts j
but they hoped they would defer the confi deration of this
affair till they had advice concerning it from the Indies.
The States therefore anfwered the Swedifli envoy, that he
might alTure the king his mafter, that neither they nor
the company had ever given any orders of this kind j and
that they were ftill in the fame fentiments of friendmip
and cordiality towards his Sv/edifn majefty and his fubjetls
as they had formerly profefTed. The fliip being difmificd
from Batavia, returned foon after; thenceforv/ard all
things of this kind were forborne, and the Swedes fulFer-
ed to carry on their trade to China, without any trouble,
oppofition, or interruption \
Their lirfl: voyages, though not attended v/ith fo much The STve"
profit as might have been expe£led, were however toler- "''fi fom- ^
ably fuccefsful, and the company edablifned their factory t^^y f^^^^*-
on the river Lanton in China, with tne content or the cQ^imfrce^
Chinefe, who feemed to be very v*'cll picafed v/ith thcfe toChina^e^
new comers, and every way dif;")ofed to favour and pro- gnlarly,o.nd
mote their trade; fo that they were very foon upon the '^^'}^^Ji^<'
fame footing there v/ith other European nations y. At '^^"^'
home indeed they met with fome difficulties ; for the com-
pany being obliged to make ufe of many foreigners in all
capacities, for the better carrying on of their trade, and
there being no nation in Europe naturally more jealous
than the Sv/edes, this jealoufy occafioned a great clamour,
efpecially among the common people, which, however,
was in fome meafure mitigated by publifliing an order that
two thirds at lead of the mariners fliould be, for the fu-
ture, natives of the kingdom ; and, as the execution of
this order was apparently attended with difficulties and
inconveniences, it convinced even the vulgar of their firll
miftake, and that the company had done no more than
what they were warranted to do by their charter, and
what the circumstances of their affairs, more efpecially at
the beginning, rendered neceffary. Since that time the
Swedilh company have been very regular, both in fitting
out their fhlps, and in their returns ; which, being fold to
foreigners, have brought in great fums of money to the
kingdom ; yet, as a great part of this money has been ex-
X RoufTet, Recneil Hiftorique d'A6les, &c. torn. viii. p. 367, 36S,
y State of the Trade in the Eaft Indies, p. 3.
X 3 ported
3 lo The H'lftory of the
ported again, for the carrying on this trade, a new com-^
plaint has been created thereby, in refpeO: to the fdver
carried to the Eaft Indies. We need the lefs wonder at
this in Sweden, becaufe, though the trade of the kingdom
is not large, yet it produces annually a confiderable ba-
lance in ready money, as is known experimentally here,
fince two thirds of the trade we carry on thither is ma-
naged with ready money only ; and it is alfo pretty much
the fame thing with other nations who trade thither, the
French only excepted, who have a balance in their fa-
vour^ from the Swedes. This has gradually grown lefs
and lefs, in proportion as they have taken more naval
(tores of late years than they did formerly -, and, as their
fubfidy treaties bring in confiderable fums to Sweden, or,
at leaft, keep the money there that would otherwife be
employed in difcharging the balance of trade; fo that the
Swedes being ufed to fee great fums of money brought in
by every other branch of commerce, and not fo immedi-
ately acquainted with the profits arifing from this, are lefs
difpofed to confider it as advantageous.
A''i luell in confequence of thefe jealoufies, fome doubt arofe,
received upon the expiration of the term granted by their charter,
f/labii/hed whether the company would be continued, or the trade let
in the fame fall, and various conjeftures were thrown out in the fo-
manner as reign gazettes. But penetrating people eafily faw that
ether Eu- there could be but little foundation for any fuch notion,
\\oa^!^ "^' fince the very application of the company, to have their
term prolonged, was a plain indication, that not only
they, but the kingdom was the better for it : fince, as it
was a fa£l notorious, that the goods fold hi their fales
were bought by merchants refiding in other countries, to
which they were a£lually tranfported, and but avery fmall
proportion of them confumed in the dominions of Swe-
den, a confiderable part of the produce mufl be clear gain
to the nation •, fince not only the dividends paid to the
proprietors who refide there, remain to the nation, but
alfo the large fums expended in building and equipping
fhips, the pay of the feamen and officers, and the dur
ties •, and, befides all this, the value of the commodities
of Sweden, which are fent to China, which have been
" ^ from the firfl very confiderable, and have been ever finqe
increafing. Thefe circumftances, duly weighed, made it
very improbable that there fhould be any thoughts of aban-
doning this commerce, and gave no fmall weight to a
? Bilhop Robinrpn*s Account of Sweden, chap. xiv.
fufpicion.
Othnutn Empire, 311
fiifpicion, that thofe reports might not actually come from
Sweden, but be rather intended to reach it, and to initill
into a people, inclinable enough to receive fudden im-
preflions, fuch doubts and fears as might prejudice them
either againft the company or the commerce *.
OMwOMooO«oeoOooeoOeaoeOeM«O^^MO"^MOMoeOMMOeMeOoooo090ooOooooOao9oOepeoO
CHAP. XXXVIIL
Hijiory of the Othmdn Empire.
S E C T. I.
Origin of the Othmdn ^urh^ and Hijiory^ till their fet-
tling in AJia Minor ^ under the Seljuk Soltdns. Re-
marks on their Hijlorians ; with the Reigns of Soly-
man Shah and ErtogruL
TH E obfervation, that the greateft empires have Origin of
fprung from the moft inconsiderable people, may '^^ Oih^
be applied with as much juftice to the Othman, or Oz- ^^"^*
man (A) Turks, as to any other nation whatever. There
can be no doubt that they came originally from Turkeflan,
or fome other part of Tartary ; but it is not eafy to fix
the particular province of that vaft region from whence
they iffuedj or to determine the particular tribe from
"which they derive their defcent.
Cantemir, the hiftorian, fays, the Othman Turks are Their gi-
defcended from one of the moft noble of the Oguzian riealo^y fuf"
families, who derive their pedigree from Oguz Khan, P"'^^^'
one of the moft ancient heroes of the Turkifh nation;
and hence they affume the name of Oguzians ; but al-
though the Turks, and Mohammedan Tatars, reckon
Oguz among the anceftors of the Turks in geaeral, yet
» Didlionaire de Commerce, torn. ii. col. 459.
(A) Othman is an Arabic long time in Perfia, They
word, of which Ozman is the are called Ali Othman, or
Perfian pronunci;ition, follow- the Othman People.
€4 by the Turks, who dwelt a
X 4 jione '
3 J 2- 5"/?^ Hifiory of the
none of tKem fpeak of a particular tribe, or branch of
the Turkifli nation, under the name of Ogiizians.
Uame Turk The name of Turk being brought into great contempt
odious. in the Eaft, by the Arabs and Perfians, who have ftig-
matized it, as a word implying rudenefs and barbarity,,
their feat of empire is not ftiled the Turkifh, but the
Othman Port. Yet thefe Othmans were, perhaps, the
moil rude and unpolite of all the three Turkifh. branches,
till they conquered Conftantinople.
RealTurks. Without particularizing the reafons commonly given
for afluming one name ancj rejecting another, which
are all frivolous and uncertain, we fliall only obferve,
that though the Othmans, as well as Seljuks, when they
grew powerful, alTumed thofe appelhtions, either being
too proud any longer to bear a name which was fallen into
contempt, or elfe to honour the founders of their refpec-
tive empires : yet they were neverthelefs Turks in rea-
lity ; and, in faying they were Oguzians, they confirm
that opinion the more, fince Oguz was but a few def-
cents from Turk. Nor can we lee, why they fhould be
afhamed of the name, fince Turk, whom they feign
to be a fon of Japhet, is acknowleged as the common an-
ceftor of all the tribes, or nations, inhabiting Tartary.
Thtjr ori' ' "^^ ^^ tlije particular part of Tartary which this fuppofed
ginal coun- Oguzian hoxd, or tribe, originally inhabited, all the
try 'very Turkiih hiftodans agree, that it dwelt in the neighbour-
uncertain. hood of the Cafpian fea, and was cfpecialiy of thofe Ta-
tars whom they commonly call Konar Kocher Tatar Tay-^
feli ; that isjfaying and going: as much as to fay-, with-
out fixed habitations. Prince Cantemir is inclined to be-
) lieye, that thefe Oguzians du^elt in the country between
that fea and the lake calied Karabogaz, at prefent inha,-
bited by the Karakalpaks, who lead a wandering life, and
fpeak the Turkifh language; although the Turks greatly
differ from them in their manners and way of living ^.
Ancefiorsof Although the Turkifh hifiorians run up the genealogy
Othman^ of the Othman Turks as high as Japhet, yet it does not
appear that the anceftors of Othman, who are but darkly
fet forth in the Turkifh authors, can be traced with any
certainty beyond the third degree, or that of his great-
grand-father. Thefe, according to the traditio-n in the
time of KhaJkokondylas, were Ertogrul, Oguzalp, and
Duzalp : according to the Turkifli annals, Saadi EfFcndi,
and other eaflern writers, their names were Ertogrul,
b Cant. Uift. Qth. &mp. pref. p. 12.
Solymaa
Othmdn Empire. jTJ
Soleyman Shah, and Kiya Aleb, called by fome Kiay
Khan.
Of Kiya Khan, father of Solyman Shah, or Indeed
of any of the three anceftors of Othman, very little
is related by the Turkifh hiftorians ; and even that little is
liable to many obje6lions.
Saadi Effendi, author of the annals fo approved, as we fettle m
are told, by the Othmans, relates, affer the bed ancient P^rfia,
writers, that at the fame time when the family of Seljuk
removed from Mawara'lnahr into Iran, v^ith them alfo
Kiya Khan, father of Solyman Shah, prince of the Ogu-
zians, departed with his tribe from Maru Shah Jan, and
polTelled himfelf of the city of Makhan (B) •, but that
after Jenghiz Khan's irruption, Solyman Shah, fon of
Kiya, or, as fome write it, Kiya Aleb Khan, whofe domi-
nions reached to Ahlad (C), to avoid the fury of the Ta-
tars, was forced to felinquifh his poflelTions, and with his
people go in quefl of new habitations tov^/ards the country
of Rum or Anatolia.
Hefhri, a much older hiftorian than Saadi, fays the Hejra 6it.
Oguzians poiTeffed the country of Ahlad one hundred and ^•^- *-*'*•
feventy years before Solyman; under whom, in 6ii, I "
they made their hrlt expedition towards the regions or Alia ^y^_
Minor ; but the Tatars having left nothing undeftroyed, 'wards.
Solyman, with his followers, abandoning Rum, removed
back to Azerbejan, and there, for fome time, led a coun-
try or unfettled life. At laft, in the year 6 i6, prelled for. Hejra 6i6,
want, of necelTaries, he advanced a fecond time vi^ith -^l^- ^*'9-
fifty thoufand men towards Rnm, to recover his former "^ "
poffeiTions : but, in attempting to fwim over the Eu-
phrates on horfe-back,' was drowned '=.
The place where this accident happened, according to
the Tajo'Hawarikh of Sacdo'ddin, was over-againfl. the
caftle Khaybar, or Jabber, and he was interred in a place
called at prefent Mazar dhi Turk. The Tarikh Othmani
relates that Soltan Aladin, of Seljvikian extraction, flying
from KhoraiTan to the country of Yunnan, and feizing
the city of Sevafta or Sivas, ailumed regal power : at the
^ Cant. pref. p. la. & feq. D'llerbelot, p. 822, art- Soliman
Schah.
(B) *Machan, or Mahan, is and fixty miles from the Caf-
betvveen Bawerd, or Iburd, and pian fca.
Durun, not far from the river (C) Aklat, or Kelat, In the
Amu, and about one hundred Great Armenia.
fame
3H
Soleymdn
Shdk
drowned.
OhjfRton
Ertcgrufs
{onquejls.
Hijlory of the
r
^ame time, Makhan being deftroyed, Solyman Shah, giving
way to the violence of the Tatars, repaired to Erzingan or
Arzingan ; from thence, penetrating into Romania, came
to Amaua. Then, altering his courfe, marched to Halep,
and thence to the city of Jabber on the Euphrates, where
he encamped: and, in attempting to fwim over the river on
horfe-back, was drowned, ^s has been already related '^.
This retreat of Solyman is by the hiftorians marked
to have happened after Jenghiz Khan had deftroyed the
city of Balkh in Khoraffan ; and had (lain Kurzem Shah.
This hiftory, as delivered by the Turkifli hiftorians,
made ufe of by Cantemir, is liable to feveral obje(ftions.
Firft, what is alTerted, that the dominions of Solyman
extended from Mahan, in Khoraffan, to Ahlad, in Ar-
menia, is contrary to the truth of hiftory : for all Perfia,
and great part of Armenia, was, at that time, under the
obedience of the Karazm Shahs ; and before them, were
in the pofleffion of the Seljukians of Iran. Nor is it
likely, that Ahlad was at all in the hands of the Oguzians,
much lefs for one hundred and feventy years before Soly-
man's retreat, if indeed he ever was poflefled of it : for
it is hardly poffible, that two places, at fo vaft a diftance
as Makkan and Ahlad, fhould be fo long fubje£i: to petty
princes, whofe dominions were almoft wholly confined to
thofe two cities, and whofe names were fcarce known to
the hiftorians of thofe countries. Add to this, that his
being forced to relinquifh his poiTelTions, with his fol-
lowers, confiftingof fifty thoufand men, to feek new habi-
tations in Rum, does not at all confift with his charafter of
a prince poifefled of large dominions \ who, in that cafe,
would have been able to have raifed more numerous forces,
and to have withftood the Mogols, inftead of flying from
them without fighting a ftroke.
If prince Cantemir had examined the Turkifh hifto-
rians critically in this part which relates to the origin of
the Othmans ; it is prefumed he would have followed
them with more caution, and not exaggerated matters,
after Saadi Efi^endi, and the other later writers, who
had more the Othman glory than the truth of hiftory
in view. But to return to the hiftory itfelf.
Solyman left four fons, Sungurteking, Jundogdi, Er-
dogrul or Ortogrol Gazi, and Dundar, or Dumdar. The
two firft, on their father's death, returned into Perfia :
Erdogrul and Damdar, with their part of the forces.
^ Cant. pref. p. jj. Annal. Soltanor, p. i.
firft
Othmdn Empire. 315
firft pitched their tents in a place called Shirmaluchu-
ker (D). Dumdar dying in this place, Erdogrul moved
towards Afia Minor, fubduing feveral provinces in his
way ; and, from his compelling thole he defeated to em-
brace his religion, obtained the name of Zeletis, very
famous in thofe parts. That he might not fcem tyrani-
cally to covet the polTeffions of others, he fent his eldeft
fon Saru-yati, (afterwards celebrated by the epithet of " .
Savuchi Beg) in an humble manner to Aladin, Soltan of
Ikonium ; defiring a habitation fomewhere in his kingdom
for himfelf and his followers. Aladin, thinking it better Repairst$
to make this powerful, though new, neighbour, his friend ^M Mi*
than his enemy, and above all things wanting a good ge- ""''•
neral to lead his armies, readily granted his requeft:
and, fending back Saru-yati, with ambafladors, to- Erdo-
grul, promifed, that, in cafe by his valour the remainder
of the Tatars Ihould be driven out of his dominions, not
only to place him at the head of his armies, but alfo to
aflbciate him in his empire. Erdogrul, on this en-
couragement repairing to Aladin's court, was affigned
Karajedaghi, in the country of Ancyra, for the place of
his abode.
About this very time, a numerous body of Tatars hap- A.D. 113$,
pening to invade the region of Ancyra, Aladin, who had • — •
been long infefted by them, led fuch forces againft them ^^^^f '^'
as could be aflembled in hafte *, but, being inferior to the °^ *
enemy's, they were put into diforder on the firft onfet.
Erdogrul, hearing of the battle, came up opportunely
with five thoufand men ; who, feeing the Soltan's forces
flying and difperfed, advifed him to join the conquerors,
and feize the fpoils of the runaways : but he, fcorning to
draw his fword upon the proftrate, bravely attacked the
Tatars, and put them to flight. The Soltan, mindful of
his promifes, royally rewarded Erdogrul, committed to
his government the whole province of Ancyra, and ap-
pointed him generaliflimo of his armies. Erdogrul, af-
terwards joining his forces to the Soltan's, not only put
a flop to the incurfions of the Tatars, but compelled them
to retire from the borders of the kingdom. He likewife
fubdued other countries from the Romans, and annexed
them to Aladin's empire. In the year 680, according Hejr a 6?o*
to the hiilorian Saadi, he crowned his victories v/ith the ^I^-'i^*-
(D) vSyrmalyzukur, p. 8. of malek, in Diyarbekr, between
Jhe Oth. Hid. probably Chir- Bir and Orfa.
con-
3t6 . Hfjlory of the
conqnefl of the famous city of Kutahi (E) from the Greeks.
At ^ength, being, worn out with wars and old age, he
His death, <^ic^^ i^^ the fame year, according to the fame hiftorians,
■but, according to Niflirin, in 687 ; and was buried at the
caftle of Suguchik, where his fepulchre is at this day re-
ligioufly vifited by Mohammedans *=.
Othman Erdogrul left three fons ; Othman, Jundaz, and Sai'-
txalted, VIZ. To Othman, who, though the eldeft, received in
Aladin's family the diminutive appellation of Othmanchik,
or Othmanjik, he left by will the inheritance which he
< had received from Aladin^ The grateful Soltan not only
confirmed his bequeft, but made him chief of all the
tekaddum, governors or commanders \ and fent him the
tab-lalem, or military enfgns\ that is, the drums, ftand-
srds, and other ornaments of a general j with full power
over his whole army. Over and above thefe honours, in
all the cities and provinces which had been fubdued by
his father, or fhould be fubdued by himfelf, he permitted
him to coin money in his own name ; and to have the
khotba, that is, to be mentioned in the public prayers.
Conquejfs Othman now feemedto want nothing of the royal dig-
frcm the nicy, but the title of foltan \ which, however, he did fiot
Gneks, think fafe to aflume during the life of Aladin : but, pre-
ferving the allegiance he had fworn to that prince, judged
it better to fight in his defence. He firfl: reduced the
princes who had revolted from the empire : then turning
Hefra 687. his arms againft the Greeks, in the year 687, took the
A.D. laS?. town of Kulza, the firft fruits of his vi(£l:ories, and add-
" ed it to Aladin's dominions. The fame year, he took
Kalanos,. or Kallinikus, brother to the captain of Ka-
rafheri, or the black city \ whom he caufed to be flayedj
and then ordered the whole army to pifs on his grave ;
from whence the field called before Tomalidz, ftill re-
tains the name of It Ifhni, or dogs pifs. Othman lofk
many men in this conilift, and among the reft his bro-
ther Junduz ; who was buried in his father ErdogruFs fe-
pulchre, near Suguchik. Immediately after this viftory,
he took alfo the city of Karakhifar, and annexed it to the
Seljukian empire.
Defeats the Aladin the fecond, or younger, being informed of
■Mrj^cls % Othman's viiflories, inverted him with the government of
« Cant. pref. p. 13- Hift. p. 9, lo.
(E) Or Kutayeh, the ancient Kotyseum and Kotiacum.
Elki-
Othmdn Empire. 517
Elkiihehr, or the oU city. The next year^ 688, Othman pj-^.^ ^^^^
expelled tlie Mogol Tatars, quite fuppreffed their incur- AD.saS^l
(ions on all fides, and gained many lignal victories. Ac —
length, having allembled inhabitants, and enlarged Ka-
rakhifar with buildings and w-alls, he made it the feat of
his refidence.
In 698, Othman took the cafile of JarhiiTar by ftra-
tagem ; after which conquefl, he added the towns of
Bilejiki and Ayncghiol, with many other caflles and their
territories, to Aladin's dominions. Next year, a fwarm
of Gazanenfian Tatars (F) invading his kingdom, the Heira «f^,
princes and great men revolted a fecond time. By this ^'^^'
defeftion, the foltan's affairs becoming defperate, he
was forced to abandon his dominions, and privately fly
to Michael Paleologus, the Greek emperor ; who, in-
ilead of affiillng, imprifoned him (G).
The governors, on his retreat, divided his dominions o« Aladms
among themfelves; but Othman, far fuperior to the reft /^^''^^
in power and wealth, prevailed with them ail, partly by ^/^f^/^
great prefents, partly by a communication of power, and foitdi,
partly by threats, to acknowlege him for fovereign of the
whole empire. Wherefore, by unanimous confent of the
great men and the army, he was in the beginning of the year
700, declared folran, and in the city of Karakhifar af- a.D.t3co»
fumed the title of emperor of the Othmans ; into which «
name he changed that of Oguzlans, or Turks, as they
"were commonly called under both the Aladins.
Othman being thus poffeffed of the empire, fet his Apppoku
fons over the provinces and cities to govern and protect g^ii^r^nn^
them. The Sanjak of Karajedaghi was given to Orkhan ;
that of Efkifhahri to Junduz Aleb ; that of Ayn Onghi to
Aygud Aleb j that of Jarhlffar to Hufan Aleb; and that of
Ayneghiol to Dorgad Aleb : but AlaoMdin, his youngeft
fon, widi the government of the city Bilejik, or BiJejiki,
was committed to the care of his mother and father-in-
law Baliad. The city of Kuprlhlflar being aifo taken the
fame year, Othman removed the imperial feat from Ka-
rakhiiiar to Jenghilliahri j which he adorned with flatey
buildings, and iirongly fortified ^
f Cant. pref. p. 13. Hift. 10 — 15. /
( .
(F) By this cxpreffion is to (G) This Is a very great
be underilood Tatars, or Mo- blunder of our author^ tor
gols, lent by Gazan, or how could Aladin fly, i/ 1299.,
Kazan Khan, who reigned to Michael Pa!eolog|i» who.
ar that time In Perfia. died in i-8ji
/ Thi*
31 8 The Mftory of the
This is the account which prince Cantemir gives us
from the Turkifli hiftorians, of the origin and foundation
of the Othman empire : but it is no lefs Hable to objec-
tions than what he has dehvered, from the fame autho-
rity, concerning the origin of the Othman family. It is
not at all probable, that Erdogrul, with but half his
father's forces, could conquer all the country between
Haleb and Kayfariyah,-or Cefarea, in Capadocia ; one
part having been in the hands of the fucceflbrs of Sa-
lahoMdin, or Saladin, powerful princes ; and the reft fub-
je£t to Alao'ddin Kaykobad, the tenth and greateft of all
the Seljukian Soltans of Rum. There could be no room
for making the vanquilhed embrace Mohammedifm, fmce
all the inhabitants of thofe countries, excepting a few,
were Mohamm.edans for many ages before. If Erdogrul
had conquered fo many countries as is pretended, how
came he to be fo much at a lofs for want of a habitation,
as to beg one from Alao'ddin ?
The condition of the Soltan's granting his requeft
could never be that of driving out the Tatars, fince the
Tatars did not enter his dominions during his reign ; and,
if they had, it is highly improbable, that Erdogrul, with
only five thoufand men, fliould defeat thofe people, who
had defeated the forces of Alao'ddin, a very powerful
prince.
. It is faid in one place, that Othman, by Alao'ddin*s
confent, had the title of foltan (lamped on his coin ;
and, in another, that he was afraid to aflume that title.
This is a flat contradI6tion : nor is it fcarce poffible, that
Alao'ddin, even had he been fo weak a prince as he is re-
prefented by the Turkifli hiflorians, fhould have granted
Othman leave to aflume all the royal honours.
It is not probable, that Othman fliould add the con-
quefts which he made from the Greeks to Alao'ddin's do-
minions, if he had been allowed by agreement to keep
them to himfelf.
It is impoflible, that Alao'ddin fliould fly, in the year
I ".99, to Michael Paieologus, the Greek emperor, who
di«d fixteen years before : nor is it probable, that he
fhoild reign from 1219 to 12995 as he muft have done,
in cfe the Turkifli hiftorians mention only one Alao'ddin,
whoii they call the fecond ; but the falfity of this is de-
monfVable from the oriental hiftorians, who reckon fix
kings 'ithin that interval, four of whom are mentioned
ty the '^reek writers.
It
Othmdn Empire. 319
It is not probable, if the governors divided Alao'ddin's
empire among themfelves upon his retreat, that they fhould
immediately fubmit to Othman, and acknowlege him for
their Soltan : befides, this fad; is contradicted by the Greek
hiftorians, and even by the Turkiih hiftorians themfelves ;
according to whom it appears, that thofe princes main-
tained their povrer as fovereigns or foltans, independently
for a long time, till they were gradually fubdued by the
fucceflbrs of Othman.
Laftly, the diftribution made among his fons by Oth-
man of his territories (which appear to be no more than
the few cities he had conquered, at no great diftance one
from the other) is a fufficient proof that his dominions at
that time were far from being large, much farther from
comprifmg the whole Seljukian empire, or country of
Rum.
From the preceding remarks, we prefume it is manifeft, Conclujion*
that the original of the Othman Turks, and their power,
is very obfcure ; and that their hiftorians, efpecially Saadi
EfFendi, have rendered it flill more doubtful, by the in-
confiftencies which the vain defire of aggrandizing the
founders of their empire has betrayed them into : on the
contrary, the Turki(h annals tranflated by Gaudier, which
Cantemir treats as fabulous, and with fo much contempt,
are free from thofe ftains which difcredit the writings o£
that priYice's favourite authors.
For although thofe annals recite the fufpicious genea-
logy of Othman, and fuppofe Soltan Alao'ddln, as well
as Soleyman Shah, to be driven out of Perfia by the Tar-
tars ; yet nothing occurs afterwards inconfiftent with the
Seljukian hiftory, or the probability of facbs.
They only relate in fubflance, that Solyman Shah, Other
coming to Arzingan, made an inroad into Afia Minor as T^urkifk
far as Am^fia, and carried oiF much plunder ; that then, ^^<^<i^nts,
turning off towards Halep, he was drowned at Jabber :
that hereupon Ertokul (or Erdogrul) marching up the Eu-
phrates to the Paflbnian (H) plains, there encamped with
four hundred portable houfes after their manner : that he
continued there for a time, during which interval he had
many bickerings with the neighbouring people : at length,
being informed that foltan Alao'ddin had fubdued feveral
provinces in Afia Minor, and founded a great empire, he
fent Sarigati, one of his three fons, to intrcat that he
(H) Or the plain of Pafin zerum. Leunclav. Hlfl. Mufel,
Wafi, twelve miles beyond Ar- Turc. lib. ii, p. 97.
would
320 Hiftory of the
would grant him fome place in his dominions, where he
xnight dwell with his followers : that Alao'ddin readily
confenting to his petition, appointed them a country fit
for their habitation, both in the fummer and winter fea-«
fons : that a certain nation at the fame juncture advanced
againft the foltan ; and while this prince marched with
his forces to give them battle, Ertokul, with his fons Sa-
rigati and Ozman, made the bell of their way towards
Enguri, or Ancyra : that Ertokul, fettling thereabout
with his people, never ceafed harraffing the neighbouring
Greeks with incurfions: and that, having governed them
A.D. 1228. for fifty-two years, he died in 687: that, fome territories
■ being conquered, his fon Ozman founded a principality,
or dominion, and divided part of it among the com-
manders who came thither with his father Ertokul : that
afterwards Ozman, and his fon Ur Khan joining their
forces, turned their arms againft the Chriftians, and lay-
ing all wafte before them, took Ifnik, or Nice s.
Authors To confirm the judgment which we have pafled on the
moji ap- hiflorians made ufe of by prince Cantemir, we fhali pro-
fronjsd. duce the authority of count Marfigli, who, during fome
years flay in Turky, made it his bufinefs to enquire into
the ancient as well as modern ftate of the Othman empire.
This nobleman remarks the fame diiFerence as we have ob-
ferved among the Turkifh authors, relating to the origin
of the Othman family, and declares, directly contrary to
what prince Cantemir afierts, that thofe only are gene-
rally approved of which reprefenc the fa£ts agreeable to
the Turkifh annals of Gaudier.
The chief Turkifli authors whom prince Cantemir
made ufe of in framing his Hiftory of the Othmans, feem
to have been two, both bearing the name of Saadi EfFendi,
Saadi Ef- hut diftinguifhed by other marks. The firfl is called Saadi
jendiof EfFendi of LarifTa, and ftyled by Cantemir, the moft
Lanjja* learned Saadi, author of the elaborate Synopfis Hiflori-
arum, coileded from the moft celebrated hiflorians, Mev-
lana Idris, Nefhrin, Saadi, Tajo'itaverickh, Peckovi, and
Hezarfen (I). It was pubiiflied in 1696, and dedicated to
foltan iVloftafa, who in that year began his reign ^.
Cantemir's
g Annal. Soitanor. p. 2. ^ Cant. pref. p. 7.
(I) HufTej-n Effendi Hezar- of all the Turkifli monarchies,
fen, or Hazarfen, a modern It is an abltracSt of Ai Jann^bi,
Turk, who has given a hiHory the Arabian's General Hiftory
of
Othmdn Empire, 321
Cantemir's hiftory feems to be a tranflation, Of abridg-
ment of this author ; and yet he no where exprefly tells
us fo : it is true, he quotes others in his preface, notes,
and hiftory, preceding Othman ; but gives little or no ac-
count of them, or how far he has made ufe of them;
only fays, in general, that he has collected his hiftory from
the belt Turkifti hiftorians, and delivered matters in their
own words'.
The other Saadi is the fame with the author of the Saai^o'ddin
Tajo'ttaverikh : his name, according to D'Herbelot, is ^^ohammed
Saado'ddin Mohammed Ebn HafTan, the moft famous and
elegant of all the Turkifh hiftorians : he was preceptor to
Soltan Morad, or Amurath III. fon of Selim, and advanc-
ed even to the dignity of mufti. He is commonly called
Khowajeh, or Khoja Efrendi, and has compofed, in very
elegant Turkiih, the book intitled, Tajo'ltawarikh, or
al Tevarikh, as the Turks pronounce it, that is, the Crown
of Hiftoriesy which is a hiftory of the Othman foltans,
from the commencement of their monarchy to Solymanl. ^
Prince Cantemir calls this work Saadi Tajo'ltavarikh, and
its, compiler Saadi EiFendi, the famous author of the Oth-
man annals Tajo'ltaverikh, fo approved by the Othmans,
and gives him the charaiSter of one who was not more zea-
lous for the Othman glory than hiftorical truth ; which
judgment, we apprehend, from the remarks that have al-
ready been made on him, will not be thought ftri6lly true.
Before prince Cantemir's hiftory appeared, we had a Turhi/b
Latin tranllation of a Turkifti author, by John Gaudier, ^^'^^''^*
alias Spiegel, under the title of Annales Sultanorum Of-
manidarum, which carries down the hiftory from their
original to the year 1550, and feems to give a plain and
undifguifed relation of fa^ts, from the earlieft hiftorians.
However, prince Cantemir endeavours to wound the cre-
dit of thefe annals through the fides of Gaudier, whom he
charges with too boldly afferting for truth what he had
taken from fome Turkifti chronicle concerning the Othman
race. To us, however, there feems to be nothing fabu-
i Ibid. Hift. Othm. p. 266. - k D'Herb. p. 728- Art. Saad
Eddin ben Haflan.
of Afia, and was publiftied in XIV. of France. See Dc la
TurkiHi, m 1672 : it has been Croix's HiH. of Jenghiz Can,
tranflated by M. de la Croix p. 427. and pref. to Hift. of
fenior, interpreter to Lewis Timour Bee, p. 22.
Mod. Vol. IX. y ^ lou^
32 2 H'lHoyy of the
lous in it but what concerns the genealogy of Othman,
and affecls it in common with the other hillories.
In fhort, we meet, in the annals, Math none of thofc
g}aring marks of forgery which appear in the hiftories
made ufe of by prince Cantemir. However, as the flaws
to be found in the Othman hiftory chiefly alfe^t this part
of it, which the writers had moil temptation to adulterate,
we fliall for the future follow them with lefs fcruple *, our
defign being not to dellroy the authority of the Turkifti
hiftory in general, as delivered by their own authors, but
only to fcparate the fpurious part from the genuine, and
point out the abfurdities which their pride has introduced,
through a vain imagination, that it would diminifli the
lultre of a potent empire, (hould it be thought to have
arifen from an inconfiderable beginning, and that the
origin of its founders was obfcure. This book was pub-
liflied by Leunclavius, with very learned and ufeful notes,
geographical and hiftorical, under the title of Pande6ls.
The European authors are juftly cenfured by prince
Cantemir, as being full of fables, barbarifms, and ana-*
chronifms, owing to their ignorance in the oriental lan-
guages and hiftories, of which his quotations from Nice-
phorus Gregoras and Lonicerus, concerning the fucceflbrs
of Jenghiz Khan ^ are flagrant proofs *, but, on the otlier
fide, it may be as juftly retorted, that he himfelf has com-
mitted miilakes in hiftory, chronology, and geography,
which he could not have done, had he been only tolerably
verfed in the oriental authors. It appears he was but little
acquainted with any part of the Mohammedan hiftory, ex-
cept that of the Othman Turks; but to have written well
on their affairs, he ought at leaft to have confulted the Sel-
jukian authors, in cafe any be remaining, as he feems to
intimate.
It is very ufual with prince Cantemir to alTert things
without bringing his vouchers ; and to give his own opi-
nion, or report of matters, for that of others. He is apt
alfo to mix the different accounts of authors together,
without diftinguilhing them ; which, with his own hifto-
rical and geographical miftakes, makes a ftrange rhapfody
of error and confufion throughout his preface, and in the
beginning of his hiftory •, but he grows more correal as he
advances>from the early times of the Othman monarchy';
and indeed is recommendable, not only for having given.
^ Cant. pref. p. 9,
us
Oth'mdn Empire, 522
us a Turkifh hlllory, taken immediately from the Turkifli
authors, but alfo for a great number of very ufeful notes,
wherewith it is iliuftrated.
With regard to the Greek, commonly called the Byzan- The By-
tine hiilorians, there are but three or four who treat of the sinntine
affairs of the Othmans, namely Nicephorus Gregoras, the ^ifi^^^^^*"
emperor John Kantakuzenus, Dukas, and Laonicus Khal-
kondylas, or Khalkokondylas : the firft of thefe authors,
as prince Cantemir obferves, is rather a rhetorician than
an hiftorian, as indeed moil of thofe writers are who fpeak
of foreign affairs only occafionally, and neglecl the efien-
tials of the hiftory and chronology to attend to the polifii-
ing of their ftyle. Kantakuzenus does not fay a great deal
on the fubjeft -, but Dukas treats copioully, and like an
hiftorian, of the Turkifh wars, from the death of Ork-
han to the taking of Conftantinople by Mohammed II.
Coufin, who tranflated feveral of the Byzantine writers
into French, fays, his work is more extenfive than that of
Khalkondylas, becaufe he goes farther back, and that it is
conducted with much more judgment.
However that may be» the hiftory of Dukas Is not near More
fo voluminous as that of Khalkondylas, who has profefledly *wff^^^
written a hiflory of the Turks to the fame period: but no- *""'''*'''•
thing can be more jejune or incorredl than his account of
the origin of thofe people, and the firft Othman foltans.
He quotes no authors for what pafTed before his own time,
and indeed feems to follow none. The fmall conformity
there is between his account of affairs, and that given by
Pakkamir, Kantakuzenus, and Dukas, fhews that he was
quite unacquainted with thofe authors ; and that he rather
wrote what he remembered to have heard, than from
books.
From the taking of Conftantinople, the hiftory has been
carried down to the prefent times by the Venetian, German,
and other weftern authors. Among the reft, John Leun-
clavius, a German, hath, befides the annals before men-
tioned, publifhed the Hiftory of the Turks, taken from
their own hiftorians (K). Thefe differ much from the
annals; and the hiftorians made ufe of by prince Cantemir
differ ftlll more from them. Hence It appears, that the
Turks have more than once brought their hiftory under the
hammer j and that the firft effays not pleafing their vanity,
(K) Hlftorlae Mufalmanae forum exfcrlptge, lib. xviii,
Turcorum de monumemis ip- Francforr, 1591.
Y a they
^24 ' Hijlory of the
tKey have ralfcd it anew upon a plan more to their liking,
buL iiili more inconfillent with truth.
Leunekvius has improved his hiftory with indexes, in
v/hich are explained all the Turkifli words that occur,
with the iituations of places, and the names they had be-
fore the Turks changed them, a work which manifefts the
great learning, genius, and application of its author : but
the misfortune is, he has mixed what the Greeks and
others have written, with the Turkiih memoirs, and not
always fufficiently diftinguiflied the reports of one author
from thofe of another.
SECT. II.
The Re:gn of Otbmdn, or Ozmdn^ Firfi Khcin, or Sol-
tdn.
Ri/e of
Othmdn*
Eleaed
thief.
One of lite
princes
takes liile-
f.ki and
oike* places
by ft' at a-
T^ E find in the Greek writers an account of the rife of
' ^ Othman, more exa61: perhaps than that which we
meet with in the Turkilh •, and at the fame time not in-
confiftent with their's. Laonicus Khalkondylas informs us,
that the Oguzians, after their coming into Afia Minor,
fettled in a little town or village, called Soguta, on the
borders of Myfia, and not above fifteen or fixteen leagues
diilant from the Propontis.
After they had dwelt here for a long time, Othman, by
his courtefy and gifts, fo gained on them, that they chofe
him for their chief. Thus invefted with authority, he
immediately armed them ; and falling on all fides on the
Greeks, with whom before they had frequent bickerings,
defeated fom.e, and expelled others from the country, of
which they took pofleilion. He afterwards obtained fre-
qu<pnt viftories ; which coming to the ears of Soltan Ala-
din, he made him his lieutenant-general : but Aladin dy-
Jng foon after, great difputes arofe among his great offi-
c'ers. At length they entered into a league to make con-
queils, with their joint forces, and then divide them a-
mongfk themfelves/ In thefe expeditions Othman figna-
lized his valour and conduct above all the reft. The com-
manders, who were feven in number, divided the territo-
ries they had conquered, by cafting lots; which fell in the
fpllowing manner : i. All the inner parts of Phrygia, as
■far as Cilicia and Philadelphia, fell to the fhare of Kara-
mdn ; 2. Sar Kan had the m-ari time provinces of Ionia,
which extended, to Smyrna j 3. Kalamuz> and his fon
Karaz^
Oihmdn Empire, 325
Karaz, poflefled Lydia, to the frontiers of Myfia ; 4. Bi-
thynia, with all the countries towards mount Olympus,
fell to Othmrm and Tekies ; 5. Paphlagonia, with other
1? 'ids, extending to the Propontis, became the lot of the
foi*s of Omur. As for Kermian, it is faid he was not of
the number ; but that having at the begiiining cf thefe re-
volutions feized on Ikonium, he was afterwards driven
■out, and retired into Ionia, where he lived a private
iife>". '
This heptarchy, or divifion among the Turkifh chiefs,
we fhall fee confirmed hereafter by Pakhemire and Dukas,
and even by the circumllances of the TurkiOi hiftory it-
felf: fromwhence it appears, that although Othm?.n con-
tinued his conquefts, and might have im.proved his (hare
more than fome of the other Turkifh commanders, yet he
was ftill upon the fame footing with them ; nor feems to
have aflumed any titles or authority above the reft : but as
he laid the foundation of a great empire, which his fac-
ceflbrs completed, it is proper that his reign fhould com-
mence from the tinie that he became an independent
pripce, after the cxtinftion of the Seljnklan monarchy,
when the partition made by the Turkifn commanders took
place; which muil have been in the year 1300, or not »
long after.
Among the exploits already mentioned to have been
performed by OthxT.an belbre the diiTolution of the Seijvi-
kian monarchy, that of his taking the citv of Bilejiki de-
ferves a more particular account. The Turkifh hillorians
write, that in the year 698, Mikhael Kofa, that is, Goat's Hejra 692.
Beard, governor of Bilejiki, Having invited Othmantothe
marriage of his daughter, the other Greek governors of
the neighbouring places refolved to feize his perfon. Being
informed of their defign, by his trufty friend Mikhael, he
ordered fome hundreds of foldiers to conceal themfelves
near the place, and forty well anned men, dreffed like
women, to enter the caftle of JarhifTar, and in the night
fet fire to the houfes about it : mean while he repaired
with a fmall retinue to Kakirhumar, a place in the fub-
urbs, where the marriage was to be celebrated. At the
time appointed, the forty difguifed foldiers fet fire to the
town, then without garrifon ; which, as foon as Othman
perceived, he gave the fignal to the foldiers in ambufh,
who, rufhing on the guefls buried in wine, flew them all,
without diftindion of fex, excepting Mikhael, and a few
" Khalkondylas, hb. i. cap. 4.
Y 3 others 5
2 26 Hiftory of the
others 5 among whom was the bride Holofira, of noble
defcent. This lady, Othman afterwards married to his
fon Or Khan ; by whom fhe had Solyman and Murad.
This affair is reprefented fomewhat differently by the
Chriflian writers.
DefeSl in We meet with little or no account in the Turkifh hit
hisjiory. tory of the a6lions of Othman for the firft fevcnt^en years
of his reign j which argues a great want of records dur-
ing that time. To fill up this gap, we are only told, that
after he had removed his refidence to Jenghifliahri, as be-
fore mentioned, he fpent fome time in regulating his do-
meftic affairs. We fhall, therefore, in fome meafure, fup-
ply the defeat out of the Byzantine hiftorians ; by fhew-
ing the miferable flate to which the Greek affairs in Afia
were reduced at the time of Othman's firft appearance on
the theatre of action.
A.D. 1 302. "We have related,towards the clofe of theSeljukian hiflory,
*~ by what means the affairs of the Eafl, which had been re-
TQi's »' ^^^^^ ^y Tarkoniates, came to be again ruined. Some time
treat en^ after, fix thoufand Alans, who had ferved Nogas, the Tar-
courages tar, came to offer their fervice to the emperor Androni-
thi Turks, cus ; who receiving them as fuccours fent from heaven,
divided them into three bodies : the greater number he
fent before into the Eafl, and referved the moll valiant for
the young emperor Mikhael, who, eager to be in aclion,
followed foon after, and encamped at Magnefia, near the
defert. From thence he fent out detachments that fcour-
ed the enemy's country, and brought off much plunder 5
while the Turks betook themfelves to the hills, and their
ftrong holds: but afterwards affembling their forces, and
defcending into the plains, the emperor was prevailed on
to retreat, by the chief officers of his army, who magnifi-
ed the forces of the enemy.
This fhameful retreat encouraged the Turks to make
incurfions as far as the field of Mencmene, and ruin the
country on all fides, while the emperor was fhut up in
Magnefia. The Alans, ^fter this expedition, demanded
leave to return ; and as the whole defence of the empire
then depended on them, when the young emperor found
that he could detain them no longer, he retired as fecretly as
he could from Magnefia, in a dark and ftormy night. The
Turks had fo over-run the country to the fouth of Perga-
mus, that the inhabitants, abandoning their houfes and
effects, fled for fafety, fome into that city, others into
Endromit, or Adromitium, and to the fea-coafl, near
Lamp-
Othmdn Empire, 327
Lampfakus ; while many crofTed the Hellefpont into Eu-
rope ; fo great was the general fear and diftrefs.
The Eaft being thus inclofed, as it were, by the Turks, A.D.1301.
from one fea to the other, Othman appeared on the 27th
day of July, at the head of a very numerous army, near Oihman ra-
Vafeum, a place not far from Nikomedia. After having- '^^^^-^ ^'•
pillaged the country about Nice, he crofled the mountains, ^'' ^*
to ravage the territories of the Alifons; and was joined by
more forces from Paphlagonia, who feemed refolved to over-
run at once all that remained to the Romans. All the troops
which Muzalon had, both of Pvomans and Alans, to op-
pofe fuch formidable enemies, did not amount to two
thoufand men: befides, a mifunderftanding arifmg be*
tween the two parties, they made but fm.all refiilance. A
good number was ilain by the Turks, and the Pvomans fled
ihamefully to Nikomedia *, while many Alans loft their
lives to favour their efcape. / fter this defeat, the people
ran for flielter to that city ; and the Turks ravaged the
country every-where, without oppofition, to the very walls
of Prufa, Nice, and Endromit, where the emperor then
was. In fliort, the whole Eaft was ruined by the fury of
arms, excepting the ftTong-liolds and fortified j^laces.
There was only a fmall fpace of land towards the lea, a-
bout Akhirao, Cyzicus, Piga, and Lopadiun, exempt from
With regard to the iflands, after the pirates abandoned A.D.i}03.
Tenedos, which had long been their place of rendezvous,
the Turks feized it ; and, with the veflels they built ^^^rV io-
there, fubdued the illands of the Archipelago, Samos, /,Vj,,
Karpathus, and even Rhodes, which they entirely laid ^
wafte.
The emperor finding that he could not by force of arms
reprefs the enemy, who made incurfions as far as the Bof-
phorus, had recourfe to other meafures. Kuximpaxis (L),
a Tartar, on the death of Nogais, to whom he was ftri61:ly
attached, fled, with his wife and children, towards the
Eaft j but being driven by contrary winds towards Herak-
lea, implored the emperor's prcteftion, was. received, and
embraced the Chriftian faith. Andronicus, in the fequel,
having brought about a match between the daughter of his
convert and Soliman Paxis, chief of the Turks, who were
neareft the frontiers, gave the government of the country
round Nikomedia to Kuximpaxis; in hopes Solyman would
fpare the Roman frontiers, out of refpedt to his father-in •
(L) Perhaps Kufliim Paflii, or Bafhi.
Y 4 law. ■
523
Hlftory of the
Turkijh
princes.
law. But tills piece of policy did not fucceed to his cx^^
pedation : for although SoKman forbore incurfions, yet
he could not reftrain Amurat, another commander, from
pillaging j the chiefs acting independently of each other.
Befides, the moment one chief quitted the field, his fol-
diers lifted under another, who continued to ravage the
country ; fo that Solyman's men committed the fame hof-
tilities, as if their chief had been at their head ".
A.D. 1304. ■ In fliort, there were then in arms feveral parties under
fo many different commanders, as Atman or ,Othman,
Atin or Aydin, Alifuras Mantakkia, Lamifes, Sfondiles,
Pagdin, and others, who, like a devouring fire, had
ruined all the country. The em.perorhad no forces to op-
pofe. the enemy, and but one way left to raife any ; and
that was, by making ufe of the fund out of which the pen-
fions of the churches, monafteries, and his guards, were
paid. The emperor Mikhael finding it not fafe to remain
at Pergamus, went with his troops to Cyzicus, whither
the people, who could efcape, retired with their effects ;
but fearing to bebefieged, he loon after removed to Piga,-
a little city near the fea, where he fell into a dangerous
ficknefs,.caufed by grief and vexation. A little ' before
this retreat, on the ^th of Auguft, there happened an'
earthquake : it was fcarce felt about Conflantinople ; but
at Rhodes it was extremely violent, and did much mif-;
chief. It was alfo very great at Alexandria, and the
country round: it Ihook Koron, Methone, a part of the
Morea, and the ifland of Karidia; in ail which' pllaces-
much damage was done. .-: , ■
In the September following, Roger came, at the invi-
tation of the emperor, with feven fiiips, and a fleet of his
allies, both Catalans and Amogavares, to the number of
eight thoufand men. This Roger had iervedin the-wars
between the kings of Sicily and Naples; which being at
an end, he, to avoid falling into the hands of the pope,
w^ho had demanded hini, had recourfe to the emperor.
Fernand Ximenez had arrived before, with his fubjefts
armed, to ferve for pay againfl: the Turks. The emperor,
charmed with fo large a fuccour, conferred on Roger the
title of grand duke, and gave him his niece in marriage :
but his. troops being tranfported to Cyzicus, committed
all forts of violences, plundered the towns, carried off the
women, and treated fhe inhabitants as if they had been
flaves. Fernand did what he could, by his remonitrances.
Violent
earth-
quake.
The Cala
ians ar-
ri've.
Pakh. lib. x, cap. i6, 17. 19, 20. 25, 26. 29, 30.
to
Othmdn Empirel ^i^
to reflrain their outrages ; but finding it in vain, returned
home with his troops : nor would the emperor Mikhael re-
ceive the Grand Duke, when he went to vifit him at
Piga.
As the emperor had not yet forces fufficient to make sarctes
head againft the enemy, he had recourfe to Kazan Khan, preferved^
of the Tartars, who accepted hisoffer of an alliance, and
promifed to put a Hop to their ravages. As foon as this
news came to their cars, they fiackened their incurfions ;
and Alais began to think how he fhould preferve the rick
booty which he had acquired in Myfia. . There was at
Sai'des an exceeding ftrong citadel, inacceffible on every
fide. Alai'S fent to acquaint thofe who held it, that in
cafe they would give him one half, which was feparated
from the other by a ftrong wall, with only a gate of com-
munication, he would futFer them to cultivate their lands'
in peace. This oiFer neceffity induced them to accept of,
againft their inclinations ; and indeed the fear of the Ta-
tars was no fooner over, than Ala'is formed the dellgn of
making himfelf mafter of the whole citadeK, , This de(ign
coming' to 'the knOwlege of the Romans, they refolved to
prevent him ; and fending for fome troops, who were in
the neighbourhood, came upon the Turks, when they
were afleep, and put them ail to the fword °.
. In the mean time, the miferles of the Eaft increafcd ^.]:),^^<,i..
daily : the enemy took Cele, Aftrabilus, and Hiero, where —
they eXercIled the greateft cruelties. Nikomedia was ex- 0//i^>- cities
tremely prefled by famine ; Belokome, Angelkome, Ana-/-^/'''/^^*
gourde, Plataneiim, and Melageum, were almoft depo-
pulated : KruUum and Katacium were In a worfe ftate.
The roads from Nice to Heraklea and Nemikome, before
the moft frequented of all, were then quite defert. There
was only one fmall road opened from Cio thither, through
the foreft. Paflengers iifed to crofs the neck of land from
Cio, by night ; and then embarking in the other bay, go
by Vater to the only gate of Nice, which was open.
The emperor having fent fome troops to Katacium, they othman
were no fooner arrived, than five thoufand Turks, under takei ^e-
Othman, appeared before the place. The foldiers, un- iokoms,
able to oppofe them, fled ; and a rnultitude of women and
children were taken prifoners under the walls of the fort ;
then the/ country was ravaged. Othman, on his return,
receiving advice that the inhabitants of Belokome had join-
ed the Roman troops In their retreat, fo that the place was
* Cant. Hift. Othman 1,11.0.9—17.
without
|3^
fhia bt-
fiigteL
A.D.?3o6.
Tnpfffr
taken hy
A.D.J306
-Roger s
ex&JSiOKS.
Hiflojy of the
without defence, he took it by aflault, flaying part of the
people, and feized a prodigious quantity of riches.
. While the Catalans exercifed horrid cruelties at Cyzi*
cus, Alifuras befieged the city of Philadelphia with an
army of Karmanians, the moit powerful people among
the Turks, took all the neighbouring forts, and reduced
the place to great diflrefs. In March the army fet forvvard
from Cyzicus, confiding of eight thoufand in&ny one
thoufand Romans, fix thoufand Italians, and a thoufand
Alans. Marulus commanded the Romans j but the Grand
Duke Roger was generalilfimo, with an abfolute power;
On his approach to Gherme, the Turks (liamefuliy de-^
ferted tlieir fort, leaving their baggage behind. From
thence he paffed by Kliara, and other places, to fuccour
Philadelphia. On. his way the inhabitants of Tripoli, which
had been taken fome time before by the Karmanians, fenfe
to defire his afiiflance. He attacked the Turks at Aulak,
and defeated them •, their general Alifuras, who was
wounded, flying to Amur for fafety : and thus the fiege
of Philadelphia was raifed.
Although Tripoli was formerly no more than in the rank
of citadels, the emperor Dukas enlarged and fortified it,
fo as to ferve as 2 bulwark to cover Philadelphia. The re-
port went, that this laft city had never been taken fince
the deluge ; which tradition made the inhabitants fo vain,
that they defpifed the arms of the Turks. Tripoli, how-
ever, came to be befieged by them, at length \ and the inr
habitants being reduced to famine, prevailed on the Turks
both to fupply them with provifions, and fuffer them to
go out to buy neceflarles. The Turks taking advantage
pf the liberty they had of going to Tripoli to fell their pro-
vifions, by means of fome inhabitants whom they bribed,
introduced facks full of trumpets, drums, and other war-
like mufic, inflead of corn. At midnight the Turks, who
came with the facks, founded the inftruments; and while
the people were confounded at the unexpefted noife, the
traitors opening the gates, let in Alifuras, whom it after-
wards ferved for a place of retreat, from whence he made
incurfions with his Karmanians.
Roger, after his vidory, returned by the forts of Kula
• and Turnus, to Philadelphia, where he raifed immenfc
fums by force. He exercifed the like exadlrions at Pyrga
and Ephefus, in the ifle of Scio, Lemnos and Mityiene,
torturing people to difcover their liidden treafure, and
putting thofe to death who refufed, not fparing the em-
peror's oiTiccrs, and even governors of places. The inha-
bitant*
Othmdn Empire* 33 1
bitants of Magnefia, having been ill ufed by him, on the
arrival of Roman troops, had killed fome of his Italian
garrifon, and imprifoned the reft. On this advice, Ro-
ger hallened to befiege the place : but finding, after feveral
fruitlefs attacks, that there was no likelihood of taking it,
he offered to retire, provided they would deliver him his
money and baggage, which he had lodged there. This
propofal they rejected with fcorn, and added infult to their
refufal p.
While Roger lay with his forces before Magnefia, the 7>^^ Turks
Turks ravaged the Roman territories, without controul : ^^'^^g'^*
and though the emperor often fent orders to him to with-
draw, he paic no regard to them : yet at laft, wearied out
with fatigue, the grand duke was obliged to raife the
(lege. In his way back to Mitylene he burdened the cities
with great exadlions ; and from thence pafiing with his
troops to Lampfacus, he crofl^ed over to Callipoli 'J.
While the troops were committing great diforders in FhUadel.
Europe, the Eaft was neglefted ; and Philadelphia fo P'''" ^^'
clofely befiegedby theTurks(M), that the inhabitants were •^^^''^'
forced to feed on dead bodies, for want of provifions. At
the fame time the MuiTulmans attacked the ifiand of Scio
with thirty fhips, and put all the inhabitants to the fword,
excepting fome who fled to a fort, and others who efcap-
ed in forty vefiels, only to be caft away near Skyra. Al-
though the emperor conferred on Roger the dignity of
Cxfar, in order to fatisfy his ambition, if pofiible, and pre-
vail on him to defend the Eafl againft the Turks, yet dill
he eluded the performance of his engagements by his ufual
artifices. He promifed, on receiving that honour, with
eleven thoufand crowns in gold, to pafs over immediately
into Afia with three thoufand men, and difmifs the reft ;
but inftead of dift)anding any, he fent fome over to Cyzi-
cus, Piga, and Lupadion ; and retained the Catalans, un-
der pretence that they had not received their pay.
Being afterwards curious to know the ftrength of the Koger/lain,
emperor Michael's army, he went in March to Adria-
nople, with a guard of an hundred and fifty men, under
pretenceof taking leave of that prince, whom he had ne-
ver feen before he embarked. Michael, though furprifed
at his arrival, received him with many carefies ; but two
or three days after, as he was entering alone into the
P Pakh. 1. II, c. a J— 16, 1 1bid. 1. 12. c. 3.
(M) Under Alifuras, vveprefumc.
apart*
532 JJiflory of the
apartment of the emprefs, George, the chief of the Ahns^
whofe foil had been killed by the Catalans at Cyzicus^
took that opportunity to revenge hiz death, and ran him
through the body. Thus fell, fays our author, this un-
juft and infolent, but fierce and intrepid barbarian. While
the Aliatics, in revenge for his cruelties to their country-
men, vrere cutting his body in pieces, his Italians were
feized and caft into prifon ''. • - ' ; • ;
The Cata- The Catalans, on the news of their chiePs death, put
lans re- the inhabitants of Kallipoli, of which they had long been
vf/jge. mafters, to the fword, excepting fome whom they referv-
ed to exchange for thofe who were at Adrianople. The
emperor -fent fome troops to relieve the fort of Kallipoli ;
but the Catalans were fo far from apprehending any dan-
ger, that they pafTed over into Afia, and put to the fword
all the people able to bear arms in Perinthus, and the
neighbouring country. Thofe who efcaped fled to Con-^
ftantinople, which was now, as it were, the only afylum
left for the inhabitants of the provinces to retire to, from
the general defolation caufed by the Turks, and other ene-
mies of the Romans ^
A.D. 1307. The young emperor was the more intent on relieving
_ ^ Kallipoli, which was befieged by the Amogavares, as he
^^^ Ir^^' ^^'^^ informed they expefted fuccours, and had invited
^^helde- ^^^^ the Turks; and fent three commanders with troops
feated by fufPicient to defeat them: but the enemy having drawn
ikem. them into an ambufcade, by leaving droves of cattle with-
out the town, to allure them forward, they were themfelves
defeated with ronfiderable llaughter. Michael, to efface
the fliame of this defeat, left Adrianople with his army ;
and being arrived at a place called Imeri, ranged them in
order of battle ; the van confiiled of the Alans and Turks,
called Turkopoli ; the main body of the Macedonians and
troops of the Eaft; the rear was compofed of the Walak-
klans and volunteers. The Roman army confifted of five
legions, and that of the enemy of four, whereof one was
Turks.
The Alans and Turkopoli (M) began the battle; but
after the firll attack on the Catalans, who ftood like rocks,
r Park. 1. 12. c 34. 42, & feqq. « Ibid. c. 14, & feq.
(M) The Turkopoli were from Aynnm ; and becoming
Turks left in Thrace by Soltan Chriilians, were enrolled a-
y^zzo'dtiin, the twelve Selju- mong the Greek foldlers.
kians of Rum, when he fled
they
Othmdn Empire, 33^
tliey turned their backs and fled *, a circumftance which dlf-
douraging the reft, they began to retreat. The young em-
peror endeavouring, by his example, to make them Hand
their ground, was in the utmoft hazard of being killed or
taken, for he Hood firm in the midft of danger j and
could hardly be brought off by the perfuafions of thofe
about him, fliedding tears, and tearing his hair for vexa-
tion. The confequence of this defeat muft have been very
.bad, if the enemy had not been hindered from purfuing
the Romans, under the imagination that they wanted to
draw them into an ambufcade. The Alans, to make the
emperor amends for lofing the battle, began to fcour
the country, and pillage his fubjedls, as other ftrangers
had done.
AkliDUgh the troops which guarded the ftreights oiThetraUlet
Avido, hindered the Turks from approaching it •, yet they i^i^sd^
were as much mailers of the other fidej but Zakaria Manuel>
by the reputation of the valour of the Italians who were
under his command, kept them at a diftance from Endro-
mit and Phocea ^
Soon after this tranfaftion, the Turks differing with
the Italians about the divifion of the plunder, part of them
took (hipping, with a defign to pafs the ftreight of Kaliipoli ;
but meeting w^itli Andrew Murefk, who waspaymafter of
the navy, they were all cut to pieces, an execution which
made the rell continue with the Italians, and ravage
'J'hrace.
In the mean time the fort of Kubukleum in Myfia, be- A.D. 130S,
ing hard preffcd by the Turks, Makrenus, governor of ■ "
Lupadion, fent thither fixty Amogavares, who Laving ^"^^2,^-
treated fecretly with the enemy, as foon as they goc into J^^^Lr.
the place, flew the remainder of the garrifon, drove out andfuc-
the inhabitants, and dehvered it up to the Turks ; after cefs,
which exploit they were condu£tsd to Lampfacus, and
from thence crofTed the Hellefpont into Europe.
Murelk was made admiral for the a£tion above men-
tioned •, but having only two fliips left of his fleet, was
foon after met by the eno^^y, commanded by Philip,,
whom but ,2. little before he had fought and taken ; but
now fortune changing fides, Philip took him, after kil-
ling all his men; and, in return for his generofity, ran-
fomed him for three thoufand crowns.
The Amovagares grown more bold by this advantage,
treated with the Turks commanded by Atin/ and brought
' Pakh. cnp. 29, 30. 3z»
over
334 Htjlory of the
over two thoufand into Europe, with fomc Romans,
wlio had joined them in Afia : by this reinforcement
grown formidable, they did incredible mifchief in the
open country.
Catalan The Turks having feized the fort of Examiles, the em-
ktiaverj. peror fent Marulus, with what troops could be aflembled,
to prevent their farther progrefs : on his approach to
Apros, Rocafort, the Catalan, who was at the fort, fent
to tell him, he intended to go over to the emperor with
two hundred men ; and that in cafe they would give him
five thoufand crowns, he would kill all the Turks that
were in Europe. Marulus, defiring to know in v/hat
manner he could deftroy fuch a prodigious multitude, he
anfwered, that he would feparate them into fmall bodies,
and fo deftroy them one after the other •, and that, as
an earneft of his performance, he fent him the heads of
feveral whom he had already killed. Marulus believed
this to be a proof of the Catalan's finc^rity, and would
have been his dupe for the money, if a woman had not
known one of the heads to have been that of her hufband,
Hain in the laft rencounter*-
Sayfan The emperor, to retrieve the affairs of the Eaft, fent
takes over corn to the garrifons, and demanded of Karbaga,
£l>hefus- i^j^^ji Qf (^Q Tatars, the fame favour which he had defired
of Kazan Khan, his predeceflbr. His ambaflador brought
word that the khan was very willing to grant his requeft ;
that he had a£lually raifed an army of forty thoufand men ;
and that his nephew had already advanced, at the head of
twenty thoufand, as far as Kogni, with orders to follow
in all things the emperor's dire61:ions j but while he was
bufy in preparing prefents, and inftruftions for his am-
baff-lors, news came of the taking of Ephefus by Soltan
Sayfan, who having thrown off his allegiance to his uncle
Karaman Mantakhia, was become very powerful. The
inhabitants, to avoid the extremities of war, furrendered
upon articles which were not well kept ; for moft of them
were fent to the fort of Tyreum, for fear of infurre£lions,
and fome were maflacred.
J^ah Ma". In the mean time a Turk, named Ifhak Malek, fent
Jik'i offer, privately to offer to join the emperor j who, ready to catch
at every appearance of advantage to his affairs, promifed
him the daughter of another Malek in marriage, with
confiderable prefents on that occafion. Among the fer-
viccs v/hich Malek propofed to do, one was, to engage
the Turkopoli to quit the intereft of the Catalans, pro-
vided
Oihmdn Empire. ^35
vi<kd their wives and children were reftored to them. Tliis
ncgociation having been difcovered, RocafortaccufedMa-
kk, and ibme of his aflbciates, of treafon. They faid,
ill their defence, they had nothing in view but to fervc
the Turkopoli, by drawing their families out of the
emperor's hands. However, Maiek found means to crofs
over into Afia, while the Catalans fcoured the fea, and
carried their ravages by land to the very gates of Conftan-
tinople ".
The Genoefe were at length prevailed on to attack Oen^e^
CaUipoh, and burned a market without the town ; but <9^^^^
fome of the chief among them being flair., and Mureilc,
the Roman admiral, wounded; apprehending likewife,
by the motions of the befieged, that they intended to make
a fally, they were fo aftoniihed, that they fled to their
fliipi, and returned to their own country. This retreat
encouraged the Catalans to fuch a degree, that they refufed
to make peace with the €mpeiV3r, unlefs upon their owa
terms. They were farther animated by the arrival of four
hundred Turks from Afia, who took the fortrefs on Mount
Gana, and made incuriions as far as Rodefto and Bizya,
or Biza ; wherefore the emperor, to prevent their advanc-
ing nearer Conftaniinople, ordered all the flock which
was upon the ground to be burned, as far as Selivrea.
lihak Malek, after this tranfadlion, fent to renew his T^kfftirh
propofal with the emperor Andronicus, demanding the vjtikdraw*
daughter of Malek, who had been promifed him. He
like wife required that the emperor v/ould confer on
Malek, his uncle, and father of that princefs (N), the dig-
nity of foltan. Andronicus, not thinking it proper to
agree to this demand, only fent Malek, with his daughter,
to Piga, and gave him the government of that city •, in
the mean time fliips were getting ready to carry into Afia
the Turks whom Ifhak Malek had engaged to draw off.
As the Catalans and Turks were before Rodefto, eager to
take it, becaufe it hindered their incurfions into Thrace,
the emperor fent two velTels to carry off the ufelefs peo-
ple ; a fervice which the Turks, by pretending to fly,
gave an opportunity of performing; and the befieged, re^
u Pakh. lib. xiii. cap. 3. 9 — 15.
(N) There mufl: be fome She was daughter of Malek
great miltake here ; one Ma- Mafar, or MaifCid, afterwards
lek (vsrhich is only a title) be- Solran, who was ilain, or died,
ing confounded with another, in 1208.
fuming
35<
/lain.
kopoii dV-
Othman^sX
Hiftory of the
fuming courage, made the Catalans withdraw. However,
it was taken foon after by Rocafort, and retaken by Du-
kas, the grand heteriarch.
Ifiiak Malekj purfuant to this agreement, crofled the
Hellefpont with the moft confiderable among the Turks.
As it was no difficuh matter for him to perfuade thofe
people to feparate from the Catalans, they boldly attacked
the Italians who commanded them ; and having flain
them, ran to the (hore, in order to get aboard the fhips,
fent thither to carry them over into Afia. The news of
this mafTacre, and their flight, coming quickly to. the ears
of the Catalans, they purfued them immediately, and
obliged them to fubmit, after killing above two hundred.
The Turks, reduced in this manner, offered to ferve them
as before; but the Catalans refufed to trull them, unlefs
they delivered up Ifhak Malek, his brother, and Takant-
ziaris, commander of the Turkopoli, whom they fufpefted
as the authors of their revolt. When thofe three perfons
were put into their hands, they cut off the heads of the
tv/o brothers, and, on ilripping them, found under the
arm of Ifhak a letter of the emperor's, inviting the Turks
to embrace his party.
Matters being thus agreed, it was propofed to beliege
Khiorli; but the Turkopoli refufed to march till their
chief was releafed. This favour being granted, they
feemed all united in the fame defign, but foon feparated
again. The Catalans attacked the city, and were repulfed
by the garrifon. Takantziaris. retired with the Turkopoli
to the fort of Apros *, and the Turks, who remained be-
fore Khiorli, underftanding that there were Catalan fhips
on the coaft, had a mind to feize them, in order to pafs
over into Afia ; but they failed in the attempt.
While the Catalans were continuing their ravages in
Europe, Othman made no lefs havock in Afia Minor j in'
refentment that Mary, the emperor's fifter, and the queen
of the Muguls (O), had treated him with contempt, and
threatened to complain of him to Karbaga, or Khorbanda.
This khan had detached thirty thoufand men from Perfia,
who being arrived on the eallern frontiers of the empire,
Andronicus fent them rich prefents \ but their arrival,
inftead of abating Othman's courage, the more inflamed it 5
(O) So called, we prefume,
becaufe (lie was to have been
married to Hulaku Khan. She
feems to have refided at Nice.
See Pakhamir, lib. xiii.
25-
cap.
for
Othmdn Empire, ^.Vl
for he took the fort of Trikokkia, and ravaged the coun-
try about Nice and Pithia, to the very fea ^.
From Dukas we learn the itate of Afia Minor, in the State of
thirtieth year of the reign of Andronicus Paleologus. Th,e ^-^^ ^'"
city of Ephefus, capital of Afia, with the province of Ka- ^"^'
ria, were reduced under the pov/er of Montakhia. Atin,
by others called Aydin, had fubdued Lydia as far as
Smyrna ; Sarkhan conquered ManilTa, or Magnefia, and
the country round, as far as Pergamus, with all the pro-
vince of Magedon ; Karmion feized Phrygia ; Karafe, or
Kaiaz, fubdued the Greater Phrygia, which extended
from the city of Aflb to the Heliefponf, and Otlmian re-
duced all Bilhynia, with part of Paphiagonia \
Thus far the Greek hillorians ; let us now return to Nicomedia
the Turkifh. Othman having fpent fome time in regu- Jiraitened*
lating his domeilic affairs, in order to prevent the foldiers
from being corrupted with luxury and eafe, invefted Nj-
komedia, but being repulfed, after a tedious fiege, he
raifed the fiege, and built over againil it, on a high moun-
tain, towards Jenghiftiahri, a flrong caftle, which he
committed to the care of the famous Targan j while he
himfelf retired into winter quarters. ,
About this time the governors of the Greek provinces, Kutahla
among whom Ornus, or Honorius, governor of Prufa, '^^^«'
was the chief, alarmed at the progrefs of Othman's arms,
agreed to join their forces at KoyunhilTar, in order to
march and furprife him ; but Othman difcovering their
defign by his fcouts, on a fudden drew together his troops,
and coming upon them unexpectedly, routed them at the
firfl: onfet. The governor of the city Koftel, and many
others, were flain ; Ornus, and the governor of Kutahi,
efcaped by flight. Othman purfued, but unable to over-
take them, befieged that city, lately recovered from the
Turks by the Greeks, and took it v/ithout much difficulty.
Here he loll his grandfon Dogris, who, with fome fol-
diers, was drowned, by the breaking of a timber bridge,
over which the army paffed, under the walls of the town.
Moil of Bithynia being conquered, Othman at length, Hejra 717.
in 717, befieged Prufa (C5), the capital of Bithynia; but A.D. 1318,
the city being fo flrongly fortified and garrifoned, that
fi€ged»
Othman defpaired of taking it, he built over againft it two '^^"•/^
wPakh.lib, xiii. cap. ai—zg. x Dukas, cap. a.
(O) Now called Burfah, the ancient feat of the kings of Bi-
thynia.
Mod. Vol. IX. Z ilrong
33^ Htftory of the
ftrong caflles, and appointed his nephew Artimur, and the
famous Balanjik, governors, with orders not to moleft the
inhabitants, who, won by this humanity, retired to thofe
caftles as fandtuaries, and fubmitted to Othman.
It was Othman's cuftom, after the conqueft of a certain
number of cities, to reft a while, and ftrengthen his new
acquifitions. Having fpent fome years in this employment,
his foldiers, impatient to be in a6lion, petitioned to be led.
OthmaiCs out to new conquefts on the Greek empire. Othman re-
tdiS* lifhed the propofal •, but told them, that by the Moham-
medan law the Chriftians ought firft to be invited to em-
brace it ; and in cafe of refufal, were to be declared ene-
mies of God and truth \ and as fuch, to be chaftifed with
fire and fword. Accordingly an edi(Sl was carried by hid
chaufh to all the Chriftian governors of Afia Minor, noti-
fying, that they mud either embrace Mohammedifm, pay
tribute, or be fubdued by the fword. The firft who fub-
mitted to this thundering edi£t, and turned Mahommedan,
was Mikhael Kofa, lord of Bilejik ; while thofe of the
cities Loblehiji, Lefka, and ChadarH, became tribut-
ary.
About the fame time the cities of Mortuni, Goynik,
Tarakli, Enghijefi, Kaya Hiflar, Hejejl, Ak Hiflar, Kara
Chin, Tekkurbanari, and fome others, being weakened
by the frequent incurfions of Chaulhi Beg, formerly Ero-
grul's fervant, he at length took them all, and annexed
them to the Othmanik dominions. Whiift thefe conquefts
were going forward, a nation of Tartars, called Chaudar,
coming from the kingdom of Kermian, fuddenly invaded
Othman's territories, deftroying all with fire and fword to
the walls ofKarak Hiflar. Othman, who then refided at
Jenghlfliari, aflcmbling his forces, attacked the enemy
near Oynafti, a town then in ruins, near Karak HifTar,
and routed them with great flaughter. The prifoners, on
their embracing the faith, were reftored to liberty, and
fettled in the jurifdi^^ion of Karak Hiflar.
Caflles fub» Or Khan, who excelled all the fons of Othman in virtue
dtita* and bravery, fubdued the cities of Karachebefli, Alebfui,
Pirgos, and Tekin Hifl^ari. After thefe atchievements,
leaving the command of the army to Kognuzalbem, that
general took by ftorm the caftles of Ahari and Tuz Bazari ;
then laid wafte the territory of Iznigmid, to the very walls
of that city. The Greek emperor, being informed of this
danger, fent fome thoufands of well-armed forces to thq
governor's relief; but Abdo'lrahman, another of Oth-
mao's commanders, coming on them fuddenly in the field
of
Othmdn Empire, 335^
ibf Yaylazova, defeated them entirely: they were almofl
all killed, or taken in the purfuit.
Although Othman, exhaufted by continual expeditions, Prufa
and old-age, was feized with the gout ; yet preferving the '<*^^»»
vigour of his mind, and defirous to purfue his good for-
tune, he fent Or Khan, with numerous forces, to fub-
'due Bithynia, governed by Ornus, and, if poffible, to take
Prufa, the metropolis. Orniis, not ftrong enough to meet
the enemy in the field, fhut himfelf up in the city, which
was very ftrong, and ftored with eight years provifions *, fo
that Or Khan, who fat down before it, met vv'ith a gallant
refinance : but, after a long and obflinate fiege, Mikhael
Kofa, who was now Or Khan's chief counfeilor, artfully
perfuaded Ornus to furrender, upon capitulation ; the
lives of the inhabitants being fpared, on paying thirty
thoufand gold crowns. Thus Prufa was delivered up in
the year 726, without the efFufion of one drop of Turkifh
blood.
At the fame time Or Khan receiving a mefl"age from Hejra 726.
his father to repair to him in hafte, fet out with a few at- A.D. 1327.
tendants for Jenghifhari, where he found him almoft ex- """T — 7~~"
piring. Othman having given him his bleffing, and ap-^'*'^^''
pointed him his fucceflbr, died in the month of Ramadan,
in the fixty-ninth year of his age, after a reign of twenty-
fix years, three months, and ten days ^.
SECT. III.
Reign of Or Khan.
f\^ KHAN was faluted emperor the tenth of the fame Soltdti,
^"^ month and year in which his father died, being then ^r KAdn.
himfelf thirty-fix years of age. The Turkifh hiflorians,
followed by prince Cantemir, mention nothing of the
tranfa6lions of Or Khan's reign, before the redudlion of •
Nikomedia, which they place in his fecond year, that is,
in 1328. The Greek hiilorians relate fome matters of
confequence which pafled before that event, but differ
much from the Turkifh in point of time.
Kantakuzenus informs us, that the young emperor An- Emperor
dronicus having made peace with Tamer Khan, fon of y^^^roni-
Giaxe, prince of Phrygia, who ufed to ravage the cities ^"^j^jj,^
on the Heliefpont ; refolved to attack the Turks, who in-
y Cant. Hifl. Othm. p. 15—19.
Z 2 liabited
34^ Htjlory of the
habited Bithynia under tents, in the middle of fpring •, but
they hearing of hisdefign, quickly retired into the moun-
tains. Or Khan, their foltan, underllanding that the em-
peror advanced through Mefothynia, the avenues to which
are of difficult accefs, raifed forces, and feized the hills..
The Romans being advanced to Pelekana, Or Khan fent
fiovrn part of his army to attack them. Being repulfed in
feveral rencounters, the foltan ordered his brother Par-
zale attack on with all his troops, and defcended himfelf to
obferve the battle: but they were defeated at the firft
charge ; the Romans, with the emperor at their head, pur-
fuing them to the foot of the hills. However, very few
men fell in all thefe attacks ; and the emperor feeing the
Turks had no mind to come to blows, returned. The
Soltan, by the advice of Kaulauze and Katighiale Paku-
ture, two of Othman's old commanders, followed them
as far as Philokrene, the Romans retreating in great dif-
order: but there, uniting again, they marched back to-
Skutarion in the face of the enemy.
After this expedition, the emperor, having vifited Scid,
"went to Phocea, where Sarkan, foltan of Ionia, came
and concluded a treaty with him. Aytin, foltan of Ka-
ria, being fick, could not vifit him, but fent feveral rich
prefents. At his return he defeated an army of Turks,
tranfported in feventy fhips, v/ho had landed in Europe,
and ravaged the country about Trajanople and Vera, kill-
ing a great nurrtber, and forcing the reft to reimbark..
Two years after this event he obliged others to return,
who had croiTed over in the fame manner.
Pihomedia And now-^r Khan befieged Nikomedia, a great and
be/iegedj populous city, on the gulf of Aitakena; but while the
4ind taken, gj^jperor was at fea, haftening to its relief, the foltan fent
to tell him, he was ready either to lay down his arms, or
give him battle. This overture being improved into a
peace, Or Khan fent the emperor horfes, hounds, car-
pets, and furs ; and Andronicus, in return, prefented
him with plate, cloth, filks, and a veft, which pleafed the
foltan moft of all. However, the fame, or next year>
the Turks cam.e and blocked up the avenues to that city>
which they found too ftrong to attack, and prevented the
fupply of provifions. This hoftility brought the emperor
over again ; but the enemy did not wait his coming *. It
feems lirange that Kantakuzenus, who fpeaks of thefe at-
tempts of Or Khan againft Nikomedia, and is fo exa6l ta
» Kantakuzenus, lib. ii. cap. 6, & feqc^.
mark
Othmdn Empire. 34 1
tnark all the little invafions and ravages of the Turks in
Europe, iliould not mention the taking either of that city,
or of Nicea, by the fame prince, which happened not long
after. According to the Turkifh hiflorians, that foltan,
in the fecond year of his reign, over-ran the whole pro-
vince of Semendura, extending from the city Aytos to
Iznigmid, or Nikomedia, which he then befieged. On
the approach of his army, Kalojanes, the governor, fled
by night to the caflle of Koyun Hiflar. Or Khan, being
informed hereof by fome captives, fent part of his forces
to attack it. The place being eafily taken, and Kalojanes^
llain with an arrow, he ordered his head to be fixed on a
pole, and (hewn to the Nikomedians, who, terrified at
the i:ght, on obtaining liberty to retire with their effedls to
•Gonftantinopie, furrendered the city-
In 728, Alibeg took by capitulation the city of Herkia, Hejra 7*^."
capital of the province of Semendura. Or Khan, having ^-D. 132s.
now fubdued all the fortified places of Bithynia, except- ^/^^^^^y „,
ing Iznik or Nicea, removed his feat from Jenghilhahri ^^ch in tki
to Prufa i and, by his brother Alao'ddin's advice, abolifti- army.
ing the Seijukian money, coined other in his own name,
called nikr.> (P). He ordered the inhabitants of cities to
be diftinguifhed from thofe of villages by different habits;
and his foldiers, who before went clad like the Chriflians,:
to wear a different drefs. fje like wife eftabliflied a militia
of foot, and taught them to make engines for taking
towns, which before they were entirely ignorant, of.
Laflly, he- made his brother Alao'ddin general of his ar-
mies, and fet him over the public affairs, with the title of
Prime Wazir, or Vizier.
Next year Or Khan firft affigned the foldiers regular
pay of a nikra per diem, when upon duty; but when un-
employed, they were to live on their own poffeffions, free
from all taxes. He aboli(hed this infantry, which being
taken from the dregs of the peafants, was addi£l:ed to mu-
tiny; and fubftituted in its rdom another, compofed of
fuch Chrillian youths as could be procured, v/ho were
£rft inftru{?ted in the Moharilmedan faith, and then en-
Tdlled. However, any Turkifh peafants, who, contented
with fubfifting themfelves, were vv^illing to be enrolled,
were permitted to ferve among the horfe, under the San-
jak Begs and Balijk BalMs, by the name of Mufeliem,
that is, free.
(P) In value about the fourth part of a drachm of filver^
^hieh is the eighth part of an ounce,
Zj The
34-2 E'lllory of the
Jzniky or '^^^ number of Or Khan's forces belncj thus greatly in-
Niceof creafed, he the fame year befieged Izr.ik ; which at two
taken, years end, being almoil wholly deftroyed by the war, fa-
mine, and peftilence, furrendered. The inhabitants hav-
ing only defired leave to retire to Conftantinople, the con-
queror permitted them alfo to carry what effects they
could with them^ which generofity fo affedled them,
that they chofe to ftay and become tributary. Or Khan,
Hejra73c. in the year 730, entered the city, and when the Greek
A.D.I 330. women, whofe hufbands had been killed in the war, be-
■'~~~"~" wailed themfelves in his prefence, he commanded his
courtiers and nobles to marry them. The fame of his
clemency fpreading through the country, not only the in-
habitants, who had fled to avoid the fiege, returned ; but
thofe of other Greek cities and towns flocked thither : fo
that in the fpace of one year Iznik feemed to rival Con-
ftantinople itfelf in the number of inhabitants.
Heira 734» In 734, Or Khan took by capitulation the caftle of
A'.D. 1334, Kemluk, fortified both by nature and art, after a whole
. year's fiege. It had been often in vain attempted by
fhrite/' Othman. Two years after, he adorned Prufa with a mag-
nificent meOcu, or mofque, hofpital, and academy, which
laft was founded in a monaflery, and became fo famous
for profefibrs in the fciences, that many flocked thither
out of Arabia and Perfia, to purfue their fludies under
Othmanik mafters.
Heira 735- . Or Klian, grown powerful by his conquefts from the
A.D. 1335. Greeks, and for the prefent fatisfied with what he had
Some Set- ^^^^^ from them, next year, formed a defign to unite to his
^ juk princes dominions the other Afiatic provinces, which were fub-
become tri' je£l to fome MufTelman princes, the remains of the Sel-
hutary. jukian empire. He began with Kafhim Beg, a minor,
fon of Ajilan Beg ; whom, under pretence of being his
guardian, he placed near his perfon, and then feized his
province. Turl'on Beg, another young prince, gave up
the cities of Aydinjik, Minas, Balikefra, Bergama, and
Ermid. Uiubad, Kubleus, and Ebleus, Greek cities in
the neighbourhood of the former, were taken by force of
arms. Muchalche, to avoid the fame extremity, delivered
up his poflefTions to be held of Or Khan in vaflalage.
Mean while, Turfon Beg having offered to furrender
his whole principality to that prince, his brother HajilBeg
refufed to give his confent, and took up arms : but, being
obliged to quit the field, fled to Bergama. Or Khan, in-
terpofmg in the quarrel, ordered them to meet under the
walls of that city, and divide the poiTeflions. They met,
and
Othman Empire. 343
and Hajll Beg, under colour of embracing his brother,
ftabbed him, and then fled into the city, intending to
iland out againft Or Khan j but the inhabitants, both de-
tefting the murder, and fearing Or Khan's power, deli- '
vered up to him both the city and the prince, who died
after two years imprifonment at Burfah. The prince of
Ulubad alfo, being falfely accufed of a revolt, was put to
death. Hereupon the whole province of Karafus fub-
mitted to Or Khan; and, in the year 738, Anakhor and Hqra 73?.
Emrud, two maritime towns of the Greeks, hearing that *
he was preparing to attack them, furrendered, as did fe-
veral others, after their example *.
There is about this time a chafm in theTurkifh hiftory A.D.i33»,
of more than twenty years, which luckily the Greek writers — ^ •
furnifli us with materials to fill up. Aytin, before men- ^^^ ^^"
tioned, being dead, his fon and fucceflbr Amir, foltan of ^S^*^-
Smyrna, Ephefus, and fome other cities of Ionia, croflT-
ing the Egean fea, with fevcnty-five veiTels, landed at Sa-
mothrace, and then at Porus in Thrace. There the em-
peror Andronicus met them, but would not venture to
fight, the Turks being ten times more numerous ; and the
enemy not liking the ground where they were, chofe,
after a fi;iort parley, to retire to their fliips.
Andronicus afterwards, fent an embafly to Sarkhan, A.D.i^sj;
tjrho commanded about Phocea, and made a treaty with — — •
him, by which the foltan was obliged to aid him both by ^^ ^"^
fea and land. The emperor in return was to fet at liberty ^ ^^*
his fon Solyman, with the other Turkifli youth, detained emperon
as hoftages at Phocea. But the Genoefe, having feized
that place, refufed to deliver them. While the emperor
lay before it, he was vifited by the three fons of Aytin,
foltan of Ionia, whofe names were Thefeus, Amir, and
Sulaymafas. The fiege having lalled five months, news
were brought that a Genoefe fleet was coming from My-
tilene to relieve the place. Hereupon Sarkhan furnilhed
the emperor with twenty-four fhips, befides many troops
both horfe and foot. Amir brought thither thirty veiTels, at
the requeft of John Kantakuzenus, the grand domeftic, who
had contracted an intimacy with him long before. But
after all thefe preparations no enemy appeared ^.
Towards the end of fummer, news came that an army A*D.i334..
of Turkifh infantry, belonging to Or Khan, had failed IT _, '
aboard thirty veflels towards Conftantinople. Thejr ^'^"^ J^
■ federal *f»
a Cant. Hift. Othm. p. 2<j— 27. b Kantak. lib. ii- cap. c&Mnu
Z 4 landed
344 ' Hijlory of the
landed in two bodies near Ennakofia. The grand domeftic
cut one of them to pieces, and the emperor dtfcroyed mofi:
of the other. After this event, the Romans took eight
veffels out of nine, full of Turks, fome of the moft
wealthy in the nation, whofe friends paid confiderable
fums for their- ranfom^.
AD.I341' News arriving, that Sarkhan, foltan of Lydia, and
— Ghiaxe, prince of Phrygia, were ready to crofs over into
^ Thrace, to ravage the country; John KantakuzenuSj the
grand domeftic, firft Cent ambafladors to make peace with
Or Khan, foltan of Eaftern Bithynia, and then prepared
to meet the enemy. At the fame time that he arrived in.
the Kherfonefus, the Turkifji mfajirry fromi Pergamus
landed there, and v/ere defeated without making refift-
AD-134*' ance. Some time after they returned from Ana, to re-
•"^ ' trieve their honour, but received their difgrace by a fe-
ccind defeat, which obliged Ghiaxe to make peace.
■ Mean while Sennakherim, with the Reman gaJlies, fur*
prifing the Turks, routed them, and ravaged the province
of Surkhan, took a little fea^port town, and returned
with many priibnei-s K
A "0.1344. Our author Kantakuzenus, after he had affumed the
title of emperor, inoppofition to Faleologusj, was reduced
U^paraUt- to fuch diicrefs, that he v/as obliged to fly to the kr^J of
%iboTsQl- "^^^^^ ' while his wife Irene and children were belieged
idn, /irntr i" Didymotikum, the only place of refuge left them.
10 Kanta- Amir, fon of Aytin, hearing of this circumfiance with
iuzeiius, all hafte gathered forces, and entered the mouth of
the Hebrus with three hundred and eighty veiTels great
and fmall, on board of which were twenty-nine thoufand
men. As foon as the Bulgarians, who had long befieged
the town, received notice of their arrival, they fled with
the greateft precipitation, to the aftonifhment of the be-
fieged, who knew -not the caufe till advice came from
Amir of his arrival, to the emprefs Irene. That princefs
fent the nobles and the garrifon to meet him.. On hear-
ing that the emperor was living, he fhed tears of joy,
and gave thanks to God, who, he faid, had infpired him
to come to the aid of his dear friend.
He then marched at the head of two, thoufand men on
foot to Didymotikum ; nor would ride himfelf, fince, as
he faid, there were not horfes enough for his foldiers.
After he had ftaid there awhile, he fet out with twenty-
one thoufand men to feek the emperor 5 but, purfuant to
* JCantakt lib. ii. cap. 34. ^ Idem, lib, iii. cap, 9, & feqq.
the
OthmJn Empire, 345r
the requeft of a letter forged by the inhabitants of Phera,
as. coming from Kantakuzenus, defiring him to retire, he,
not fuipeiSling the fallity of it, returned to Afia with his
^troops *". He had fcarce laid up his fhips in port, wht*n a
genuine letter came from Kantakuzenus, defiring his aifift-
ance. Amir hereupon fiited out two hundred fail j and,
though Apokaukus, chief n}ini{ler to Paleologus, fent to di-
vert his coming, by prefents, he frankly told the ambafla-
dors, that he was reiblved to aid Kantakuzenus with all his
power, and'refufed the gifts, faying, it would be bafe to
receive prefents as a friend, and prefently after make war
like an enemy.
Accordingly, fetting fail from Smyrna, he directed his
courfe to Eubea, where underllanding that Apokaukus
had marched from Thefolonika to Berea; and judging the
emperor, liis friend, muft be thereabouts, this generous
Turk failed thither. The emperor, being informed of his
arrival, fet forward from Berea. Upon his approach A-
mir went to meet him, with his principal officers : alight-
in evt/hen he approached, he fell proftrate to falute hiqi,
and marched on foot, nor would remount but with much
importunity. Afterwards they went to the Morea, where
Amir fell (ick. On their return to Didymotikum they
met with and defeated the enemy under Franzes. In this
rencounter Amir, who, though not yet recovered, was
among the foremoft in the fight, received three thrufts
with a pike, which his cuirafs warded off. He had mount-
ed his horfe without his armour, but remembering the
emperor's advice a few days before, alighted again to put
it on, and thus efcapcd being flain.
The enemy ilrove in vain by large promifes to detach Hh noble
Amir from the intereft of Kantakuzenus; but what tliey f^^^l^tv en-
could not do by the prince they did by his mercenary ofii* dangers int.
cers ; who, having been ten months from home, were the
more eafdy induced, by hope of rewards, to importune
their chief to return. This ftep, to his great regret, he
•was forced to take, after having fent an ambaiTa'dor to ad-
vife the emprefs Anne to make peace ; but to no effe^:.
At their audience Apokaukus threw out feverai reproachful
expreflions againlb Amir : among the reft, that though he
was raifed to the dignity of foltan, yet he was fo mean*
fpirited as to follow Kantakuzenus Hke a Have in a foreign
country, and to ftand as a guard at his tent-door. The
ambailador, taking occafion from this infult offered to the /
*■ Kantak. lib. iii. cap. 56, & feq.
foltan
34^ Uift^^j rf ^^^^
foltan his mafter, to recriminate upon his accufers, ipokc
■with fuch energy and freedom as aftoniftied the audience.
AD. 1345. Amir at parting promifed Kantakuzenus to lend him
■ forces in fifteen days, to return in perfon as fcon as pof-
fible, and ftay with him till he had finifhed the war. AI- *
though his departure gave the emperor much uneafinefs, it
proved lucky for Amir himfelf. A body of troops; in twen-
ty-four galiies of Rliodes and other countries of the Latins,
landing at Smyrna, took a fort in the port, and burnt fome
(hips, notwithftanding all the care Amir took to prevent
it 5 and had he not arrived as he did, the city itfeif might
poffibly have fallen into their hands ^
Or Khan The emperor Kantakuzenus, being informed that the
Jtudi aid, emprefs Anne had defired fuccours of Or Khan, {tnt
alfo to that prince, entreating, that he would grant him a
fupply, rather than afiifl the faction at Conftantmople ;
a propofal to which Or KJian agreed. His territories be-
ing fo very near, the emperor received fuccours from him
as often as he would ; for he commanded in the maritime
parts of Paphlagonia, and as far as Phrygia; but that
proximity contributed not a little to ruin the lands belong-
ing to the empire ; for the Turks often crofTed the fea un-r
fent for, and attacked the cities which refufed to fubmit
to Kantakuzenus.
Amr^s ^ . Amir, foltan of Ionia, was liindered, by the burning of
magnam- j^jg {hips, to fuccour Kantakuzenus, as foon as he intended ;
*"'"*'' nor was iteafy for him to march by land, on account of a
difpute which he had with Sarkan, foltan of Lydia, about
their limits ; but, .being impatient to perform his promife,
he offered to give up the country in quellion for liberty of
paflage. Sorkan not only readily agreed to Amir's propo-
fal, but fent with him his fon Solyman, to ferve the em-
peror. The foltan then fet forward at the head of twenty
thoufand men ; and croffing the Hellefpont, joined Kan-
takuzenus at Didymotikum From whence marching to
Peritheorion againfl Momitzilus, who had only four thou-
fand men, a fierce battle was fought ; but their general at
length being killed, all the rell were either flain or taken.
^ijis in The krai of Servia having raifed the liege of Pherus on
council \ ^jjg £j.^ report of the march of the Turks to its relief, it
was agreed in a council of the principal officers, at which
Amir and Solyman affifted, to go and befiege Conftan-
tinople, on a fuppofition that they would find no difficulty
in reducing the place, confidering the confufion things
^ Kantak, cap. 63, 66, 68.
were
Othndn Empire, 047
"were in by the death of Apokaukus, who was flain in a tu-
mult at the public prifon ; but when they approached the
city, they found that his executioners had been maflacred
by the mob, and that all things were again quiet.
In their return to Macedonia Solyman was attacked at returns U
Apamea with a violent fever. Thofe who attended him Stnyrna %
gave him cold remedies, which chilled the blood, and
brought on faintings. Amir, who difcovered the caufe of
thofe dangerous fymptoms, ordered him to take treacle
and old win^, which renewed the fever ; but the others
applying their firlt medicines, froze his blood to fuch a
degree that he died immediately. Thofe who had the care .
of Solyman accufed Amir of being the caufe of his death,^
and that he had given him poifon in his wine. Amir ap*"
prehending that Sarkan might give credit to thofe calum-
nies, and take up arms againfl him, refolved to return be-
fore the report fliould gain ground. And indeed he found
it no eafy matter to clear himfelf from the charge in the
eyes of Sarkan, although he was entirely innocent of the
matter g.
Some time after he arrived at Smyrna, twelve gallles put AD. 1346,
in there, commanded by one Martin, with a patriarch of
Conftantinople on board, fent by the pope. This prefump- My^ ^ t^
tuous prelate would needs enter the cathedral of Smyrna, ^^^^^'*^*
and ordered the army to follow him ; contrary to the ad-
vice of all the fea-officers, who reprefented the danger and
raihnefs of fuch a proceeding. Accordingly, while he was
celebrating mafs, Amir came with his army, and flew him
at the altar, with Martin and fome others, whom he found
in the church ; for as foon as the Italians faw the Turks
approach, they fled to the citadel. At the fame time thir-
ty-two noble Genoefe, having equipped fome gallies at
their own expence, went and took Khio.
In the courfe of the fame year Or Khan fent to the em- Theempe-
peror Kantakuzenus, to demand one of his daughters in '*°^'-f
marriage ; ofl?ering in that cafe to ferve him againft all ^^"S^f^^^
his enemies, not as his friend and ally, but as his fon and ^arrJaJ^
fubje61:. On this occafion, he confulted his principal of- to Or
ficers of the army, who all advifed him to embrace the Khdn»
propofal. He fent likewife to defire the advice of Amir ;
who made anfwer, that the friendfhip and alliance of that
prince would be very ufeful to the empire ; that although
he had no occafion for his fuccours againfl the dome-
flic e;iemy, which was already almoft humbled, yet they
S Kantak, cap. 81, 86. 89,
vrould
348 Hijlory of the
would be of fervlce againfi the foreign enemies, who had
done him many injuries \ that he was affured Or Khan had
not a more fincere and ftrong defire than himfelf to ferve
the emperor ; but was fenfiblehe had a better opportunity
of doing it, becaufe his territories lay oppofite to Thrace.
He added, that the emperor" ought not to make any diffi-
culty in contrafting this alliance, iince many of his pre-
deceflbrs had not difdained, for the advantage of their af-
fairs, to give their daughters to Scythians and other flran-
gers,"
The emperor admired the modefty of Amir, in acknow-
leging that the fuccours of Or Khan would be more ad-
tageous to him than his own ; and, following his advice,
lent an embafly to that prince, to let him know, that he
would grant his requeft ; and to defire him to fend troops
t9 condu6l his daughter'. Or Khan forthwith difpatched
thirty fliips, with a great number of cavalry, and the chief
ipen of his nation. Kantakuzenus, repairing with his
arniy to'Silivrea, ordered a throne to be erefted without
the town, and a tent near it, where the emprefs pafTed
1 ..-„,.. y^ith her daughters. Next day Tlieodora, the bride,
-^^ u i,,a^ihoii^ted'the throne, to be viewed by the people, accord-
.' , ing to a cuflom obferved by the emperors when they mar-
ried their daughters to foreign princes. The emprefs with-
the, reft remained in the tent, and the emperor appeared
alone oil horfeback. The filk curtains, adorned with gold,
which ericlofed the throne, being drawn, the princefs ap-
peared fitting, furrounded with torches, held by eunuchs
on their knees. This ceremony was accompanied with
mufic, and verfes made by the beft poets in praife of the
Eride. The emperor having feafted his army, and the
moft confiderable perfons among the Turks, for feveral
days, fent her to her hulband, who received her with tranf-
''^ ports of joy.
Antf^^sfaf- The emprefs Anne, finding that fhe had nothing to ex-
jMtoierve pe6t on the fide of Or Khan, fent to Sarkan, foltSn of Ly-
hiijriend, jj^^ ^|^o readily aflifted her with troops. Amir, vexed
to fee forces march againft the emperor his friend, and re-
folving to ferve him the beft he could, ordered two thou-
fand of his own troops to join Sarkan's, as is ufual in the
Turkifh expeditions j but gave their commanders private
orders to go over to Kantakuzenus, in cafe Sarkan's fol--
diers could not be gained to his intereft. Thefe latter
ftcod wavering till they faw the emperor ready to give them
battle^ and then fent to offer him their fervice •, but de-
fired firft, that they might go to Conftantinople, and re-
' ceive
Othmdn Empire. 349
ceive the money wliich the emprefs Anne had promifed
their mafter. They did fo •, and, at their return, the em-
peror having no farther occafion for them, difmilTed them;
but as they could not leave the country without commit-
ting ravages, according to cuftom, they made an incurfion
into Bulgaria, and then loaden with fpoils returned home ''.
Soon after this period, peace being made between the AD.1350.
two parties, and Kantakuzenus acknowleged emperor ~-
jointly with John Paleologus, then but fifteen years of age, ^^.J^^^**
Or Khan with all his family came to Skutarion (Q_), to ^fj^,^^*.
felicitate him on that occafion. The emperor crofled over '
to meet him there, where they feafted for leveral days,
and took the diverfion of hunting. The emperor and Or
Khan fat at the fame table, and the four fons which the
foltan had by his former wives at another. Tiie principal
Romans and Turks fat on carpets. When thefe diverfions
were over. Or Khan remained aboard his fliips ; and Theo-
dora, with her four brothers-in-lav/, went with the em-
peror her father to Conftantincple ; where having ftaid
three days, they returned to Bithynia.
It was not long after this interview, that the kral of Ser- fends him
via having invaded the empire, Kantakuzenus fent to de- ^^^*
fire fuccours of Or Khan, his fon-in-lav/ ; who immedi-
ately fent him ten thoufand men, commanded by his four
fons and by Solyman. The emperor joined with them
his fon Mathew, with a fmall body of Rom.ans, and forbad
them to commit any difo'rder in the territories of the em-
pire ; but when they advanced to Mygdonia, and under-
ftood that the circumjacent country belonged to the kral,
they began to ravage it, in fpite of all their commanders
could do. They flew a great number of the inhabitants,
and took a multitude of prifoners ; then returned home by
way of the Hellefpont, loaden v/ith booty.
Some time after, two thoufand Turks having pafTed the A.D.1354.
Hellefpont, and plundered Thrace, were met, returning ■
with their booty, by the emperor, who cut to pieces moft of in'vadwg
one party, with their leader, Kara Mahemet j the reft, com- ''"'*v ^''',
manded by Maratuman, furrendered, and were fent home.
Thefe were Turks, who, having ferved in the late wars
between the two emperors, were acquainted with the
country. At the fame time Mathew, the emperor's eldeft
h Kantak. lib. iii. cap. 95) & feq.
(Q^) Commonly called Skutari, on the Bofphorus, oppofite
j;o Conitantinople,
fon,
350 Hiftory of the
fon, who was governor of the cities of Khalcldica in Ma-
cedonia, defeated another body of Turks who had landed
in that part of the country, not one efcaping either the
fword or captivity.
A.D.1353. Theflalonica being befieged by the kral of Servia, Kan-
' — takuzenus demanded fuccour of Or Khan, who fent him
/Kfl h'" twenty thoufand men, under his fon Solyman ; but this
and his * prince being come as far as Anaktaropolis in Thrace, he
tnemies. received a letter from his father to return as fecretly as
poffible *, becaufe he Hood in need of his troops, to de-
fend himfelf againfl the moft powerful princes his neigh-
bours, who had attacked him. Notwithflanding Or Khan
was in fuch hafle, Solyman (laid to plunder Bulgaria
before he went \
A.D.I 354. In the war begun between the Venetians and Genoefe,
' about a difference which happened in the Tanais between
a Tatar and a Venetian, the emperor declared war againft
the Genoefe, then inhabiting Galata, the fuburbs of Con-
ftantinople ; and Or lOian affifted the Genoefe, not only
* on account of the money he was to have, but alfo becaufe
he was offended that the Venetians fhould come into his
neighbourhood with a numerous fleet, without paying him
the leafl compliment. Accordingly he fent an army of
both horfe and foot, who encamped on the continent op-
pofite to Conftantinople, and were of great fervice to the
Genoefe.
A.D.1355. In the war which broke out foon after, between the two
■ emperors Kantakiizenus and his fon-in-law Paleologus, Or
^'•^/^ T'^ Khan fent fome troops to the alTiftance of the former ; with
Solyman. which he went and relieved Adrianople, where the young
emperor befieged his fon Mathew. Paleologus having ob-
tained forces from the Servians and Bulgarians, Kantaku-
zenus applied again to his fcn-in-law Or Khan, who fent
ten thoufand horfe, under the command of his eldell foil
Solyman. This prince, croiling the Hellefpont, en-
camped next day on the Hebrus, where the Servians arid
Bulgarians lay, without either party knowing they were
fo near each other. The day after, in their march they
met the enemy, who were quickly defeated, and all flain.
or taken, except their commander and a few followers.
The Turks went to Adrianople to falute Kantakuzenus.
While they were in that neighbourhood, Paleologus fent a
letter, with prefents, to draw Solyman over to his inter-
cft. Solyman received the ambaffadors civilly, and re-
* Kantak. lib. iv. cap. 4. 10. 16.. ^
fufed
Othmdn Empire, 35^
fxifed their mafter's prefents •, but promifed not to a£t
againft him. Neverthelefs he fent the letter to Kantaku-
zenus, as it were to let him fee the incivility of the writer,
who had not given him the title of emperor 5 then he re^
turned to Afia with his troops ^.
The Turks, in their late expeditions to ferve Kantaku- ^^"^ '"
zenus, having feized qt\. feveral places in Thrace, and fgi^^j,^
among the reft the fort of Zimpe, that emperor was exceed- tfig Turks,
ingly offended ; and, not having forces fufficient to drive
them out, wrote to Or Khan, his fon-in-law, defiring him
to quit pofTeihon of what was fo unjuflly acquired, that
their friendihip might not be difturbed. However, So-
lyman refufing to deliver Zimpe without a confideration,
Kantakuzenus fent him ten thoufand crowns in gold. At
this time an earthquake overturned almoft all the mari-
time cities of Thrace, and efpecially Kallipolis, the moft
famous city of that country, then in the hands of the
Turks; who, on this occafion, made captive^ of great
numbers of thofe Romans who had efcaped the other ca-
lamity.
Solyman, who was then at Pega, a city beyond the
Hellefpont, being informed of the havock which that ac-
cident had made, forgot the treaty which he had fo lately
concluded with Kantakuzenus; and, croffing into Thrace,
repaired the cities, and peopled them with new inhabi-
tants. He took particular care to rebuild Kallipolis, fill-
ing it with his own fubje61:s. After v/hich meafures, he
made incurfions into Bulgaria, ravaged the country, and
carried off the inhabitants. The emperor had no other demanded
remedy left, but to intreat Or Khan to order his fon to of Solymdn,
give up the towns which he had feized, without any co-
lour, during the peace ; reprefenting it as the higheft in-
juftice in him, to keep the fort of Zimpe after receiving
the price of it. Solyman alleged, that he had not taken
them by force of arms ; but found them deferted, and
therefore refolved to keep them. Or Khan, though an
accomplice in the affair, yet willing to preferve the favour
of the emperor, his father-in-law, defired a little time to
difpofe his fon to a compliance. In (hort, upon an offer
of forty thoufand crowns, Solyman confented to reftore
them. Kantakuzenus, on this occafion, croffed the fea to
Nikomedia, to confer with Or Khan ; but, the latter be-
^ng ill, could not then fettle , matters.
^ Kantak. lib. iv. cap. 26. 31, &feqq.
Solyman
-g5^ Bijlory of the
Promife to Solyman afterwards, marched at the head of a power-
refiore ful army again the Galates of Eaflern Scythia j and took,
ihem. .during the fummer, tv/o of their mod famous cities, An-
cyra and Kratea. At his return, in autumn, he fent,
jointly with his father, an embaiTy to acquaint Kantaku^
zenus, that he was ready to reilore the cities of Thrace,
whenever he was plea fed to receive them. Accordingly
a day was appointed for that purpoie ; but it does not ap-
pear, that the places were reftored, although it is faid
the peace was concluded.
Prefently after, a peace taking place betv*^een the two
•emperors, Kantakuzenus and Paleologus, the former re-
•nounced the world, and went into a monaftery ; after
having agreed with Paleologus, that his fon Mathew
ihould enjoy that part of the empire which had been
afligned him, with the title of emperor ; but the two
young emperors did not long continue in amity '.
Or Khan ^^ ^^^^ mean time, a pirate-fliip of Old Phocea, where
dupes Pa- Kalothetes commanded, failing into the gulf of Aftakena,
/fc/o^'af fl«^ to carry off people, happened to take Khalil, the fon of
efifts Ma- Or Khan; whom they brought back to Phocea.. Or Khan,
inew» ^^^ being able to attack the place by fea, for want of
fhips, nor by land, for want of , troops fufficient to open
a way thither through the country, applied to Paleologus ;
who promifed to procure the releafe of Khalil, pro-
vided he forebore any longer to affiil Mathew with
forces.
Or Khan agreeing to this alternative, Paleologus fent
immediately to Kalothetes, thinking that he would give
Up Khalil at the firft demand : but, finding that he could
prevail neither by promifes nor threats, was forced to
buy his deliverance at the rate of one hundred thoufand
.crowns of gold, with the dignity of panhyperfebafle into
the bargain.
Mathew, being informed, that the governor of Pheru?
was difpofed to deliver up to him that important place,
with the widow cf the kral of Servia, and the treafure
flie had in pofftiTion, promifeci to be there a month after,
In the mean time he fent for a reinforcement to his bro-
ther-in-law Or Khan, who being then at Avido or Abidos,
let him have five thoufand Turks ; but thefe being be^t
more on plundering than fighting, behaved in fo difor-
derly and cowardly a manner, tl;iat they not only ruined
i Kantak. cap. 38, & feqq.
the
Othmdn Empire^ ^^3
th(? defign for which he had demanded thei1:i, but, flying
firft from a party of their own troops whom they took
for Servians, and afterwards from the Servians them-*
felv^s, Mathew, who was thus deferted by them, was
taken prifoner near Philippi ; and, to obtain his liberty,
was obHged to lay afide the title of emperor '".
Having thus, from the Greek hiftorians, fupplied the Soiyman
vacancy found in the Turkifli hiilory, down to the year ^;^'^^^-^
1355, we fhall return to the Turkiih writers j by whom ^''^^''
we are told, that Or Khan's ambition encreafing with his
fuccelTes, he fent his fon Solyman to attempt a pafTage
into Europe ; joining with him his three moft famous
captains. Ache Beg, Gazi Fazil, and Ornus Beg. Other
writers name them Gazi Faril, Yakubje Beg, and Mikhal
Beg. Solyman, taking with him eighty fele(fl men, un-
der pretence of hunting, entered the country of Aydinjik,
and furveyed the coaft : but, as the Greek emperor had '
made it death for any perfon to pafs either into or out of
Afia, even in a boat, he, by tli« help of two rafts laid
upon bladders tied together by the necks, croffed over
with his company to the caftle of Hamni, in Europe.
On their landing, they feized a peafant ; who, by a paf-
fage under ground, brought them into the town by night.
Solyman, treating the inhabitants gently, prevailed on
them to condu£l the Ihips, which lay in the harbours of
Balayr and Akchiliman, into Afia ; from whence, in a
few hours, they carried back three thouland Turks, with
whom next day he furprifed the calUe of Hyafobonia ;
which he committed to the care of Ache Beg ; from
whom that territory bears the name of Acheovafi.
Kallakonias, governor of Galibolij, or Kallipolis, af- l^alm C***-
fembling what force he could in halte, advanced to at- ^'^''^^*
tack Solyman ; but being inferior to the enemy, both in
number and courage, they were obliged, after a long
difpute, to retreat into the city, which they bravely de-
fendeVl for a long time ; till being weakened by frequent .
aflaults, and dellitute of provifions, they at length, iri
the year 760, delivered up, by capitulation, Kallipolis, Hejra 760.
with the whole province of Khayreboli, or Karipolis. ■ ^•^•'359»
When the emperor heard of the taking of that city, '
which was efteemed not only the key of Conftantinople,
but the bulwark of Europe, he is reported to have faid,
that the Turks had only taken a hog-ftye and a pottle of
wine.
°> Kantak. lib. iv. cap. 44, & feq.
Mod. Vol. IX. A a Next
354 ^^My ^f ^^^
Killed by a ■ '^txt year, Soltan Or Khan fent a fecond army into
/a//. Europe, under the conduct of his fecond fon Morad ;
who, while Solyman fubdued Malgara and Ibfalam, took
the caftie of Epibatos, about ten hours from Conftanti-
nople. He then laid fiege to Chorlu, a ftrong city be-
tween that capital and Adrianople : before which he was
feveral times repulfed, and loil a great number of men ;
but, being over-powered with numbers, the inhabitapts
were at length all ilain, and the town was quite dem.o-
' . liftied. The people of Pirgos, between Chorlu and
Adrianople, intimidated by this feverity, abandoned the
place to Morad ; v/ho prefently returned to Afia, leaving
Solyman. Not long after, as* this prince -was exercifing
his troops, by darting their fpears and (hooting their ar-
rows, his unruly horie ran away with him ; and, t)reaking
his leg againil a tree, he fell to the ground with fuch
violence that, he inflantly died.
peaih of The death of his beloved fon flruck Or Khan to the
Gr Khan» heart; yet, ftill intent on conquefts, he fent Ache Beg, ^
with an army, to befiege Dydimothykon. This general,
approaching the cjty before he was expe£led, accidentally
feized the governor, who was taking a walk. The gover-
nor, who was of the imperial race, to gain his liberty,
furrendered the city ; which, however, Or Khan reflored,
to oblige the Grecian prince, his friend ; but an illnefs,
contra6led by the death of his fon, increaling, he died
two months after ; having lived feventy years, and
reigned thirty-five, according to Saadi's computation, tie
was buried in the monailery of Prufa, or Burfah, and
left the kingdom to his fon Morad.
ffts cha' '^^^ Turks greatly extol this Soltan's clemency, valour,
ra^ef, ^"^ juflice, as well as his liberality to the poor. They
fay, he daily converfed with the learned, and would under-
take nothing of moment without their advice: that he
was the firil of their monarchs Vv^ho founded Melkus,
Jami Madrafeh, or fchools, and Imarets, or hofpitals :
that he had a red face, blue eyes, yelfowifli hair, and
was of a middle ftature, though Corpulent, appears from
his picture in the faray, or feraglio ".
n Cant. Hid. Olhiji. p. a8, & feqq.
SECT.
Othmdn Empire* ' 555
S E C T. IV.
' l^he Reign of Morad Khan I.
MORAD, or Amrat, afcended the throne in the forty- &dian
firft year of his age, and aflumed the title of Khoda MoraJ 1,
Vendikar, or God^s- Labourer, to fliew his religious difpo-
fition. In the firfl year of his reign, he t6ok the ftrong
city of Anguri, or Ancyja, with leverai caftles in thofe
parts. He afterwards, fent his prime wazir, Atabeki
Shahin Lala, a brave and wife general, with fome light
troops, to crofs the Straits of Kallipcliq^ and befiege
Adrianople, while he followed with a more powerful
army : but, hearing on the way that his wazir had taken AdrianopU
the city at the firft aflault, he returned to Prufa,- and or-. '^^^«'
dered him to march into the bowels of Thrace ; appoint-
ing Kaji Ornus Beg to be beglerbeg of Rum Kli, or his
European conquefts. The wazir executed his orders fo
fpeedily, that Felibe or Philippi, Eiki, Zaghena, and
other neighbouring places, fell into his hands.
Next year, iVforad built a fpacious Jami at A-drianople, Hejra 76a.
ftifl called Moradiyeh, or Morad's temple, on this occa- AD 1361.
fion. One time going before the mufti, who then dif- '
charged the office of judge, to give in his evidence, he
was rejefted, as not worthy of credit. The foltan won-
dering at this ftrange proceeding, and afking the reafon,
the mofti anfwered, that he reckoned his teftimony true
and unexceptionable, as being imperial ; but of no vali-
dity in judicial matters, becaufe he never joined in com-
mon prayers with the reft of the Mufulmaris. Morad,
upon this reprimand, reformed his conduct, and built the
Jami, as an atonement for his former mifcondu6l.
In 763, Ornusj Begler Beg of Rum Eli, took Ipfala Hejra 76%,
and Malgara, ravaged the country, and carried off an in- ^' ^^ ^'
finite number of captives. From hence, Kara Halil Paftia, q^^^^^ ^r
the prime wazir, took occafion to fay merrily, that a1- janizo'
though all fpoils were faid to belong to the emperor, yet ries wjii"
if the number of captives were ever fo great, they were ^«'^'^-
all engrofied by private perfons ; fo that Jione fell to his
majefty's ftiare : he therefore thought it reafonable, that
fome of the foltan's Agavat fliould be appointed at the
Straits of Kallipolis to feize every fifth captive ; of whom
the moft perfonable' and robuft might ferve at court, and
in the army. Morad liking the propofal, an ediei was
publiflied for that purpofe ; and, a great number of cap-
A a 2 tives
256 Hiftory of the
tives being brought together, the fokan fent his new
army to Haji Bekta(h, a religious Turk, famous for his
miracles and prophecies, defiring him to give them a ban-
ner, pray for their fuccefs, and appoint them- a name.
The fheykh, putting the fleeve of his gown on one of
their heads, faid, ** let them be called Yenghicheri : let
thfir countenance be ever bright, their hand vidlorious,
and their fv^ord keen : let their fpear always hang over
the heads -of their enemy ; and wherever they go, may
they rectum with a white face." From this time, thofe
foldiers retained that name, and covering for the head.
Hejra 766. By means of this new infantry, in 766, Batha, in Afia,
A,D. 1365. and, in Europe, Zagara and Gumurjina, were reduced.
' Next year, Andronicus Paleologus, the Greek emperor,
^'^,'^!^'r^ defired Morad's aid againft the king of Bulgaria. The
Tiuus. Soltan, purfuant to his requeft,, fent an army into Europe,
under Lala Shahin, who, coming upon the enemy unex<-
peftedly, in a place called Zermen, eafily put them to
flight. The fame year, he ordered to be built at Prufa,
in the ftreet Kapluje, a large jami, temple , a madrafeh,
or college *, and an imaret, or hofpital.
Morad, to divide, and gain over to his intereil the other
princes of Afia Minor, in 783 married his fon Bay Yezid
or Bajezet to a daughter of Ghermian Ogli (O) *, with
whom he received as a portion Kutahia, Egrigoz, and
Taulhanlik. By his addrefs, Hamid Ogli oiFered to hold
in fee of the Othman empire the cities of Elvadz, Enifhahr,
Arflierih, Karagais, and Seydiihahri : which example
others followed.
Hejra 784. The affairs of Afia being thus fettled, next year Morad
AD. 1382. pafled the Straits of KallipoHs v/ith a great army, and
befieged the ftrong cafile of Bolina : but, meeting with
Mohamme- great oppofition, is faid to have implored the affiftance of
■%", ^^^^ heaven. The fame night part of the wall falling down, the
Othmans entered by the breach, and put all the garrifon
to the fword. A great number of red hats being found in
the magazine, Morad diftributed them among his foldiers,
and ordered others of the fame colour to be made for the
reft of his army. The fame year, Ifkanderia, Darme,
and the ftrong town of Kavaila, with almoft all Ainaud
or Albania were fubdued : as in thejear 788, were the
tov/ns of Zikhne, Karaferia, and Monaftir.
(O) Prince of Phrygia Ma- of Jenghiz Khan's expedition.
jor, one of the Perfian gover- Cantemir.
nois, who revolted at the time
The
Otlmdn Empire* 357
The neighbouring ftates being ahrmed at the great in- Hejra 71^1.
creafe of the Othman power under this foltan, a league A.D.1389.
was formed againft it by the Walakhians, Hungarians, ■*
Dah-natians, and Triballians, with thofe of Arnaud not yet ■^'^^^-^
fubdued, under the condu£l of Lazarus, prince of Servia. 'servia-
Morad having prepared to meet this fiorm, attacked the jsjlain ' <
Chriftian army in the plain of KoiTova, in Servia, where
a fierce and doubtful battle was fought ; but at length the
confederates were put to flight, Lazarus himfelf was taken,
his nobles were flain, and the run~aways long purfued by
light-horfe. The foltan, walking over the field of battle,
and viewing the dead, told the wazir, he thought it
ftrange, that among the enemy's flain he faw none but
beardlefs youths : continuing his difcourfe, " It is ftill
more flrange (faid he) how 1 {hould be deceived by a v'ifion
lall night in my fleep ; for methought I faw myfeif flain
by the hand of an enemy." At that inftant, a Chriftian
foldier, who concealed himfelf among the dead, perceiv-
ing it to be the foltan by his talk, animated by thoughts
of revenging his country, fuddenly ftarted up, and plung-
ed a dagger in his belly. The aflailin was inftantly cut in
pieces. Morad dying within two hours, his body was
carried by the wazir and baflias to the royal tenr, and
embalmed. After this accident, the great men aiiembling
about the choice of a new emperor, Ilderim Bay Ye^id,
his eldefl fon, was declared foltfin.
The Turks greatly extol Morad as a mirror of judice, a FrV cha*
prince of invincible fortitude of mind, very regular in his ^^^^^»
devotions, and a lover of the learned. He is alfo praifed
for his remarkable abllinence, and contempt of pomp, fo
that he was never feen clothed in any thing but fof (S).
He lived feventy-one years, and reigned thirty °.
We find but little relating to this foltan in the Greek
writers, and that delivered Vv^ithout order. The firft en-
terprlze of Morad, or Amurat, according to Khalkondy-
las, was againft the Triballians, in which he defeated
Sufman, Defpot of Servia, and took the very opulent city
Cant. Hift. Othrn. p. 36*-45.
(S) Sof, or fuf, a fine light fof is called fofi. And hence
cloth made of wool. It is Shah Ifmael of Perfia was
chiefly worn by ecclefiafliics, called Sofi Ifmael, his father
who are forbidden by their having been a religious per-
law the ufe of filk. The per- fon.
fon who wears a garment of
A a 3 of
BS^ Hijlory of the
of Pherres. The fame authors fay, that Amurat began
this war for love of Sufman's beautiful daughter, whom
Defeats the by thefe means he hoped to obtain. He afterwards ob-
Tribal- liged Dragas, fon of Zarkhus, lord of Mafia and Bogdan,
Hans. Qj- Pogdan, who commanded the country about Mount
Rhodope, to become tributary, and to attend him in his
wars. He fubdued other princes, who v/ere TribaUians,
Kroats, or Albanians.
RehelliDn of A rebellion rifing in Afia, he pafTed over, and quelled it.
Saux and Upon this occafion he received advice, that his eldeft fon
Androni- Sauz had joined in a confpiracy with Andronicus, eldeft
^*^* fon of John Paleologus, to dethrone their fathers, and
make perpetual peace. Morad haftened back to Europe,
and complained to the emperor, that Andronicus had
corrupted his fon. Then marching with his forces to Api-
kridium, the place where the princes were encamped, not
far from Conllantinople, he went to liften at their tent ;
. and having heard their difcourfe, called to the officers,
M^ho were about them, by their names, and by an artful
fpcech drew part of them over. The reft fled with the
princes to Didymotikum, where Amurat followed ; and
feizing Sauz, caufed his eyes to be put out. Andronicus
was ferved in the fame manner by his father 5 who durft-
not refufe to do what Amurat required. Boiling hoc
vinegar was made ufq, of on that occafion.
Anemft of After this tranf.i61ion, Manuel, the emperor's fecond
Manuel, foiij who had the government of Thefolonika, formed a
defign to feize the city of Pherres ; which defign Amurat
hearing of, fent Kharatin Baflia to take his city, and
bring the, youth bound into his prefence. Manuel, unable
torefift, fled ; but his father not daring to receive him, he
took a jefolution to go and afe pardon of the foltan him--
felf ; who, pleafed with his behaviour, received him with
embraces, and fent him back loaded with prefents to Con-
llantinople,
T/;^ empe- John Paleologus, to put a ftop to the growing power of
ror Pa!eb- the Turks, palTed into Italy, and applied to the Venetians
^'^^^\^-^' for aid ; but met with nothing but fair words. Having
^hafy. ^^ bprrowed a large fum there, he viuted, to as little pur-
pofe, the other Italian princes, and then repaired to France,
whofe king, by reafon of the inteftine broils, was in no
condition to affifl him. At his return to Venice, he was
arretted for the money he had taken up when he refided
jh tliat city. Plereupon he fent to his fon Andronicus,
whom he had left regent, to raife the fum, cut of the re^
venijss pf the flergy, and by pther nieahs. Andronicus,
not
Onhmm Emplu, 359
not caring to part with his authority, fcnt word, that the
people were averfe to the propofal ; hut Manuel raifing all
the money he poflibly could, in hade fet fail for Italy,
with defign to remain in his father's (lead, in cafe that
fum was not fufficient. This acl of filial virtue procured '
him his father's love, and his brother's hatred.
Amurat, having difcovered that Manuel was forming
defigns againO: him, Kharatin deprived him of his city and
government ; and as the emperor had forbidden him to
retire within his territories, he fled to Lefbos ; whence
being ordered to depart, he pafTed by fea to Troas, and
thence by poll to Prufa.
The foltan delayed^ no longer to march againfl the Tri- Amwafi
balliansj and their prince Eleazer, or La-zarus,. who was death,
joined by the Hungarians. He gave one daughter to Suf-
man, lord of the Odryfians, or Moldavians. The other to
Bulkus, fon of Brankas, fon of Plandikas, who held Kafto-
ria, and that part of Macedonia called Okhida, formerly-
belonging to Nikholas, fon of Zuppan^ Thus flrengthen-
ed, he thought himfelf fure of vidtory. He had alfo,,after
the death of Unglefes and Khrates, conquered Piitrinum
and Niitra, and extended his borders as far as the river
Save. He was encamped in the plain of Kofoba, where
Amurat attacked him, and gained the victory, but loft his
life.
His death is varioufly reported : the Turks fay, that, as
he follov/ed Eleazer, who fled, a Triballian foot-foldier
met and ran him through the body with a pike. The
Greeks pretend, that before the battle, one Milo, having
propofed to Eleazer to kill Amurat, rode up armed to the
iirft ranks of the Turks, juft going to give the charge,
and defiring to fpeak with the foltan, who was in the midft
of the Janiflaries, ran liim through the body, and was
.then cut in pieces p.
The account which Dukas gives of thefe affairs is as A.D. i3S9«
follows : when Or Khan died, John Paleologus, who after
his return from Italy had obliged Kantakuzenus to retire Andronicut
into a monaftery, M^as twenty-five years of age. He had ^^'»^^^'
three fons, Andronicus, Manuel, and Theodorus. An-
•dronicus furpaffed all thofe of his time for ftature, flrength,
and majefly of perfon., Amurat had the fame number,
Yakub, Kuntuz, and Bajazet. Andronicus and Kimtuz,
^vho were of the fame age, one day confpired'againii their
£ath.ers5 'which ccnfpiracy coming to the knowlege of
P Khalkondylas, lib, i. cap. 2—- 13.
A a 4 Amurat,
35o
Dethrones
his father,
andrefiores
him.
Amurat
Jlain by a
Servian*
Hijiory of the
Amurat, he ordered his fon's eyes to be put out, and
threatened to declare war againil Paleologus, if he did
not do the fame juftice upon his. The emperor, through
fear, or (ome other weaknefs, did more than was required
of him J for he caufed the eyes, not only of Andronicus,
but of his infant fon, to be put out, and then imprifoned
him, with his wife, in the tower of Anema. From
thence they efcaped two years after, by means of the Ge-
noefe of Galata j who, glad of the occafion, afTifted him
with forces a^ainft his father. After a few days Andro-
nicus was admitted on certain conditions into the city ;
but, contrary to his oath, he confined his father and bro-
thers in the fame prifon.
They having in their turn made their efcape to Skutari,
Andronicus, unwilling to involve the finking ftate in a ci-
vil vjrar, refigned the throne to his father, and obtained
his pardon : he ftill faw with one eye, and his fon with
both. The emperor gave to Andronicus Selivrea, Dan-
eion, Heraklea, Rodefto, and Panide ; in the firft of
which he refided : then he ordered Manuel to be crowned,
and proclaimed emperor.
To return to Amurat. This prince, having reduced
moft of the cities of Thrace, befieged Adrianople, which
he took, with all Theflaly, except ThefTalonika. When
he had conquered almoft all the Roman dominions, he
turned his arms againft the Servians, ruined many of
their towns, and carried off a multitude of prifoners.
Hereupon Lazarus, fon of Stephen, their Krai, raifing all
his forces, fought a battle, in which great numbers fell on
both fides. During the engagement, a young Servian ran
towards the Turkifh army, and being feized, pretended
he came. to put the foltan in a way how to gain the victory.
Amurat making a fign with his hand to advance, he drew
near; and, plunging his dagger in that prince's breaft,
Was immediately cut in pieces. The Turks, though afto-
niflied at the accident, yet did not lofe their difcretion.
They erected his tent in the middle of the army, put him
in it, and renewed the fi|];ht with extreme fury. The Ser-
vians, who knew nothing of what had happened, foon
gave way, and the Krai being taken, with the chief men
of the nation,- were carried to the tent, and facrificed at the
feet of the expiring Amurat. All this was done without
either of tlie two wings of their army knowing any thing
of the matter* The right was commanded by Yakub the
elder, and the left by Bajazet the younger brother ^.
^ Dyk^s, cap. 3. ^ i».
Othmdn Empire • 361
We have choien to give feparate extracts from thefe tvi^o
authors, that our readers may the better judge of their
authenticity.
SECT. V.
The Reign of Ilderim Bd-yezid.
VT'AKUB CHELEBI, the younger brother of Ba-ye- Saltan
zid, not being pleafed vv^ith his advancement to the Bd-je&id.
throne, attempted to raife a fedition j but the projedl being
feafonably difcovered, he was, by the command of the
foltan, and confent of the chief men, ftrangled with a
bow-llring : Lazarus alfo, prince of Servia, being con-
fidered as the occafion of Morad's death, was, by Ba-
yezid's order, brought before him, and beheaded. After
this execution, difmifling the army, he fent his father's
body to be buried at Pruia, or Burfah, in the royal Jami ;
and, following himfelf, erefted to his miCmory a moil ele-
gant marble kubbeh, or monument.
Next year, purfuing his father's conquefts, he took in Seljuk
Europe, Karatova and liTeib j and, in Alia, added Aydin, frinccs re-
Sari Khan, Kars, and Montefha, to his dominions. A '^^^f'^
difpute arifing between him and his father^in-lav/ Gher- /^y//^^!j,/,
ham Ogli, he vanquilhed, and, banifhing him to Ipfala, ans^ oo;^*-.
feized his kingdom. The prince of Karamania, who had thronvn ij
piarried the foltan's filler, would have fhared the fame ^^^^^' "
fate, had he not refolved on the war againfl: Moldavia ;
intending to revenge in perfon the defeat, which his ar-
my, under Surafker Solyman BaOia, had received two
years before at Hierafus. With this view, hailing back
to Europe, he layed a bridge over the Danube, ravaged all
Moldavia, and encamped at Razhoe, a village on the ri-
ver Siretus. Soon after Iftefan, or Stephen, prince of
that country, arriving with his army, fought a llerce bat-
tle, but was overthrown. On this he fled to Nemz,
where, with a flrong garrifon, he had left his mother,
who from the walls denied him entrance, and bid him re-
turn and retrieve his honour : faying, fhe would rather
fee him perifh by the hand of an enemy, then branded
with the infamy of being faved by a woman. Idefan,
flung with his mother's reproaches, departed the city ;
-'Sftd by a trumpet, whom he met, rallied twelve thoufand
Moldavians, who had efcaped the fword. With thefe,
falling
^62
Koramdn
KnflamQTiu
aika.
Chrijiian
princes de-
feated.
Hiflory of the
falling on the enemy, difperfed over the ^t\{[, and intent
on fpoil, he put them to flight. Then at Vaflilui, tvv^enty
miles from Jafli, capital of Moldavia, routed the Turkiih
army, took the royal tents, and obliged the foltan, who
was before the terror of the world, to fly with a few at-
tendants to Adrianople.
.Mean while, Karaman Ogli hearing of this great over-
throw, and believing he had now a fair opportunity of
crufliing his power, befieged Kurahia, and ravaged the
Othman dominions in Afia. Ba-yezid, more enraged
than difcouraged'5 with his ufual fpeed raifed an army in
Europe, and before his arrival In Ana was fufpe^ted, met
the enemy divided into many parties, and defeated them
at the firft onfet. Karaman Ogli, flying with his fons to
Akjami, was taken by the purfuers j and being brought
before the foltan, was, by his orders, beheaded, and his
two fons condemned to perpetlial imprifonment at Prufa.
Thus all Karamania fell under the victor's power.
In Europe, he took Nigheboli, Siliftra^ and Urufchik,
towns on the Danube *, and next year, in Afia, reduced
Amaiia, Tokad, Nikfar, Samfun, and Janik 5 which had
been fubjeft to SoUan Burhan Elledin.
After this expedition, he returned to Europe. But had
no fobner pafTed the Straits of Kaliipolis, than he was in-
formed, that Kutrum Ba-yezid, prince of Kaftamoni,
takinpj advantage of his abfence, laid waflie his provinces
,jn Afia Minor, The foltan, leaving Europe to his gene-
rals, with the greater part of his army repafTed the ftraits;
but before he arrived, Kutrum was dead, and his fon Is-
findar Eeg fent ambafladors to beg pardon for his father's
offence, and promifed fubmiflion. Ea-yezid received him
into favour, and placing garrifcns in the cities of Kafta-
moni, Tarakii Borli, smd Othmanjik, hafted back to Eu-
rope, and in the fame campaign took iSelanik, or ThefTa-
lonika.
This expedition being finiflied, he returned to Prufa ;
where news were prefently brought, that Sigifmond, king
of Hungary, in conju<^ion with other Chriflian princes,
having raifed' an army of a hundred thoufand men, had
entered the borders of the Turkiih empire and' laid fiege
to Nikopolis. Ba-ye^d in liaile afl^embled, his forces,
not exceeding fixty thoufand men; and pafliing into Eu-
rope, attacked the confederates with fuch fury, that they
were defeated at the firft charge v/ith great flaughter.
All Sigifmond's partners in this expedition were taken
»r flain, himfelf only efcaping firil to Conilantinople, and
dieuce
0th man Empire. 3^3
thence by water into his -own territories. There were
found in his camp many v/arlike engines and a large trea-
fure, with which the fokan built both at Adrianople and
at Prufa, a jami, with a noble madrefeh and a darufh-fhifa,
or hofpital for the ftck.
Ba-yezid, having now nothing to fear from the weftern Hejra 797.
princes, turned all his forces againfl Thrace -, where he -^•^•^394«
took a caftle fituate on the Euxine fea, about fixty miles ^^^ iL-r "
from Conftantinople j and, to deprive the Europeans oi r^^^^^J^^
the means of palling into Afia, built a new city in a place
called Bogaz Kefen. This he very ilrongly fortified, and
named GuzelhifTar, or the hcautiful caftle. The fame year Confiantl^
he encamped with a great army under the walls of Con- ^^P^^ ^«-
ilantinople without oppofition : but, when preparations '^C/^^'^*
were made for an aflault, the prime wazir diffuaded him
from the fiege, reprefenting the danger of a revolt in the
new ccfnquered cities, not yet fettled, and of alarming
the Chriftian princes into a confederacy. On thefe con-
fiderations, although he did not defpair of taking the city,
yet he advifed that the fiege fhould be deferred, left, by
grafping too much, all fhould be loft ; and that ambafla-
dors fliould be fent to the Iftambol Tekkuri ( T), upon a
prefumption, that, as he could have no hopes of faving
the city, he would gladly fubmit to any terms that were
impofed on him.
In purfuance of this advice, Ba-yezid fent his ambalTa- ^^^^^ror
dors to Paleologus (U) with a letter, requiring him to de- ^^^0^^^
liver up the city to him, telling him, he had fubdued the ^' " ^^*
reft of his dominions, and that beyond the walls he had
nothing left *, but the ambafladors had orders, in cafe they
found the Greeks averfe to furrender the city, to conclude
a peace on their paying a yearly tribute. This contriv-
ance had the efFeit, and a truce was made for ten years,
on condition, that Paleologus fliould pay annually ten
thoufand Filuri Altum; that the Othmans be allowed to
built a jami and mekiene in Conftantinople ; alfo to ap-
point a kadi, ox judge ^ who was to decide between Mo-
hammedans : but when the difpute was between a Chrif-
(T) lilambol feems to be a Cajfar. It is their infolence to
corruption of Conll:antinople ; call him only governor of Con-
for the more learned Turks, llantinople, though at that time
and the emperor in his man- he had nothing left without the
dates writes Conllantaniyeh, walls of the city.
Tekkur, or teggur, fignifies (U) This was Manuel, who
governor : but they fometimes began his reign in 13^4.
call the emperor Kayfer, or '
tian
sH
A.D.1391.
7Jie tjles
ravaged.
ia iaken.
Hiftory of the
tian and a Mohammedan, then the patriarch was' to deter-
mine it. The fame regulation was to take place alfo at
Adrianople ""^
Tlii5 is the account given by the Turkifh hiftorians re-
lating to the Greek affairs. Let us now fee what the
Greeks themTelves fay upon the fubje£l. According to
Dukas, after Ba>yezid had made himfelf mailer of Bithy-
nia, Phrygia, Bulgaria, and Karia, he fent to require the
emperor John Paleologus to pay tribute, and order his
fon Manuel with a hundred men to follow him in his war
againfl the Turks of Pamphiiia. John, v/ho had no ex-
pcdlation of fuccours from any fiate whatever, was oblig-
ed to comply. The foltan afterwards prohibited the ex-
portation of corn, which was annually made from Aiia to
the ifies of Lefbos, Khio, Lemnos, and Rhodes. Plav-
ing alfo fitted out a fleet, he fent fixty great velTels to
Khio, burned the city and towns about it, ravaged the
iiles of the Archipelago, Euboe, and part of Attika. The
emperor, flill more alarmed at thefe proceedings, refolved
to fortify the ciry on the fouth fide along the {hore, and
built two towers on the fide of the Golden Gate with the
Hones of a church, which he had pulled down for that
purpofe.
But, as foon as the war in Pamphiiia was finifhed, Ba-
yezid having fent to tell him, that, if he did not demolifli
thofe fortifications, he would put out the eyes of his fon
Manuel, the emperor was forced to do what was required;
and foon after died of grief for the bad flate of his affairs.
Manuel being informed of his father's death, efcaped from
Prufa, and reached Conftantinople. When the news, of
his efcape came to the ears of Ba-yezid, who had a defign
to flay him, he fent to make feveral unjuil demands; and,
among the reft, to have a kadi eftablifhed in that city, to
decide the difference between the Mufulmans fettled there
on account of trade, adding this threat : ** If you will not
obey my commands, fliut yourfelves up within the walls
of your city, for I am in poffeffion of all without."
The tyrant, afterwards, paffmg from Bithynia into
Thrace, ruined all the villages between Tanida and Con-
ftantinople, carrying off all the inhabitants. Next he took
Theffalonika, and all the neighbouring places. Pie fent
Abranefus into the Morea to ravage Akhaia and Lacede-
mon ; while Tarkan was detached towards the Euxine
fea, to ravage the country on that fide with fire and fword.
»■ Canterair's Othm, Hid. p. 47, & feqq.
He
Othmdn Empire; 365
He lllcewife fliut up all the avenues to Cdnftaiitmople,
that the inhabitants might neither go in nor out, nor be
fupplied with provifions; a blockade which foon produced
fuch a fcarcicy, that they were forced to pull down the
houfes for wood to make fires.
The emperor hereupon wrote to the pope, the king of Chrtjiian
France, and kral of Hungary, to let them know the ex- prixcajs^^
tremity he was reduced to, and the danger which the city /^^^^
was in of falling into the hands of the enemies of the
crofs, unlefs immediately afiifted. The princes of the
Weft, touched with Manuel's letter, armed in his de-
fence; and, in the beginning of fpring, the duke of Bur-
gundy, befides feveral Englifh, French, and Italians, met
in Hungary, where being joined by Sigifmond, kral of that
country, and king 'of the Romans, they pafTed the Da-
nube at Nikopolis. Ba-yezid, having drawn all the forces
of his empire together, not omitting thofe which guarded
Conftantinople, marched along by Philippopohs, and
the mountains near the marflies, where he v/aited for
them.
Next day the Chriftians appeared; and having made the A.D. 1393,
tortoife, broke the main body of the enemy, and pe-
netrated to their rear. When the Flemings faw that -^*«««'^J^-
the Turks, who fought with flings or bows, began to i^%ljj^
fly, they purfued them in diforder, and made a great
flaughter. Then the guards of the palace iffued forth from
their ambufcade, and falling impetuoully, with a great
crir, upon the French and Hungarians, enclofed them,
and having cut them in pieces, put the reft to flight. The
Flemings, feeing their friends defeated, fled themfelves,
iind were purfued to the Danube, where fuch as efcaped
the fv/ord were drowned. Several lords of great quality
were taken; among the reft the duke of Burgundy, count
of Flanders, whomi Ba-yezid fent to Prufa, and afterwards
releafed for a great ranfom.
The foltan, elated with this fuccefs, fummoned the em-
peror to furrender Conftantinople ; who did not vouchfafe
to fend him an anfvvcr. Hereupon Ba-yezld, affecting to
fupport the right which John, the fon of Andronicus had
to the empire, told him, that, in cafe he would yield the
throne to the lawful heir, he would lay down his arms,
and maintain peace with the city. Manuel, being a very
wife prince, and fearinj^: the people, who began to divide
in parties on this occafion, might be conftrained by the
fcarcity, which increafed every day, to renounce their re-
ligion, and give up their country, fent to his ncphev/ John,
who
366 Hiftory of the
"who was then in the neighbourhood of Conflantinople
with ten thoufand Turks ; offering to yield the city to him,
provided he would only let him take the gallies, which
were then in the port, and retire with them whither he
pleafed. This propofal being -agreedto, Manuel put John
in poflefTion of the palace ; and, going on board with his
wife and children, departed.
Manuel, arriving in the Morea, left his wife, and two
young children, John and Theodorus, at Modon. Then;
lending back the gallies, went on board a large^ fliip for
Venice. From thence, pafTmg through Italy, he vifited
France and Germany. The princes received him every
wjiere with great honour, and made him rich prefents.
He afterwards returned to Venice, and from thence to
Modon ; where he refided, expeding to fee the ruin of the
empire.
Eay-yezid imagined that John would have furrendered
Conftantinople to him, as had been agreed on, in confider-
A.D.1394. ation of the Morea, and a treaty of peace. But John found
- means to compound the matter by delivering up Selivrea,
and admitting a judge into the city, to which his empire
was confined.
Ttmur'sin-' While Ba-yezid propofed, after fo many conquefts, to
njaJiQit, j2|,g ^ j-j.{.]g j.£(^^ news came that Timur Bek, or Tai;ner-
lan, was advancing to invade his dominions. Some au-
thors pretend, that Paleologus had in his diftrefs written
to this Tatar prince 5 promifing for his afliftance to hold
his empire of him ; but that he refufed to accept thereof,
though at the fame time he engaged to fuccour him ; and
this is thought to be one reafon of Timur's expedition ^
But Dukas, the Greek hiflorian, who has written beft of
thefe affairs, far from affigning any fuch reafon for it,
writes that Timur made this war in behalf of the Moham-
medan princes, whom Ba-yezid had ftripped of their do-
minions; and that he commended the foltan for fpoiling
the Chriltians, at the fame time he condemned him for in-
vading the Mufulmans ^ ; which we find is nearly the truth
of the cafe, as delivered by the Oriental hifiorians.
Hejra goo. According to the Turkifli writers, Ahmed Halamir,
A.D. 1397. khan of Baghdad, having, in 'the year 8co, revolted from
"I ~ ■ ihe foltan of Egypt to Ba-yezid, this latter by his means
^''''■/'''' '-^ xvrefted from the Egyptians Ilbiftan, Malatia, Diyurghe,
and Nebbi. In his return, he entered the province of Ar-
zingan, fubjeft to Tahrin Beg ; and, defeating the govcr-
» Cantemir's Othm. Hid, p. 53. t Dukas, cap. 15.
nors
. Othmdn Empire, 367
nors thereof, impofed on him a heavy tribute. Shortly-
after, fufpetling his fidelity, he carried his wife and two
fons in holtage to Prufa. Some hiitorians of lefs autho-
rity fay, that the motive to this aftion was his being ena-
moured of the lady ; whom he forced from her huiband.
Tahrin ^tgy not brooking the injury, put himfelf under.
Timur's prote£lion, and excited him to make war on Ba-
yezid.
i^LCCordingly, in 804, that conqueror movedagainfthim; Hejra 804.
and, being met by liderim near Prufa, a bloody battle was ^^- '^o*;
fought, in which there fell on both fides more than three „ . ^. '
hundred and forty thoufand men. At length the Turks ^igf^^t^ed,
were defeated ; Muftafa, Ba-yezid's eidell fon, was llain,
fighting gallantly j and the foltan himfelf, being taken
prifoner, was fhut up in an iron cage, where he ended his
days. Timur hereupon entered Prufa, and forced tike reft
of the Afiatic countries to fubmit to his yoke ".
The, foregoing account x)f this war is {o very fhort, as Turi/Jhac-
well as inaccurate, for neither the time nor the place of count cen-
the battle, nor the treatnjent Ba-yezid met with, are truly I^^^^*
related, that one would imagine the Turks have no good
memoirs among them concerning it. The place of battle
indeed feems to have been inferted by prince Cantemir by .
conjetfture \ for, in a note, after telling us, tlmt moft
Chriaian writers fay' the battle was fought on the banks of v
the Euphrates, he alleges, that, as all the Turkifh writers
affirm that Timur immediately after the battle entered
Prufa, it is a clear proof, that it was fought on the plains
of that city. But this is contradicted by the Oriental, as
well as Greek hiftorians ; and even by the Turkilh author
of the annals of Gaudier ^, which he fo much depreciates;
who all agree to make the field of battle, the plain of En-
guri, or Ancyra.
The occafion of war between Timur and Ba-yezid, ac-
cording to Sharifo'ddin ali Yezdi, was this. Ba-yezid ;
having, after the death of the Kadi Burhano'ddin, made
himfelf mafter of Siwas, or Sebafte, and Malatiyah ; fent
in very haughty terms to fummon Taharten, prince of Ar-
zenjan, to come to his court, and remit the tributes of that
city, Arzerum, and their dependencies, to his treafury.
Taharten immediately fent advice of this demand to Timur;
who v/as furprifed at the boldnefs of the Othman, know-
ing that Taharten was under his prote6tion ; and fent him
a very mortifying letter, in which he c:.'': ^ ':"i a pifmire,
« Cant, ub] fupra, p. 54, Zc feqcj, ' v,- x-, j^,
a little
3«8
Hiflory of the
Sept. ift.
Timur
takes Si
Offers
peace on
a little prince ; and, what doubtlefs gave mofl offence of
all, a Turkman. Ba-yezid anfwered the ambafladors, that
he wanted to be at war with their mafter ; and that if Ti-
mur did not come to feek him, he would go feek Timur
in the very heart of Perfia. At the return of the am-
N. S. 1400. bafladors, Timur, who was then in Georgia, began his
march towards Afia Minor, which he entered the firft of
Moharram, 803 ; and, marching to Si was, or Sebafle,
fent in purfuit of Mehemed Chelebi, furnamed Kerilhchi ;
whofe troops, being overtaken, were cut in pieces. He
then befieged the city, the walls of which were fo ruined
by battering and fapping in eighteen days, that the inhabi-
tants, driving out Moilafa, the governor, implored the
mercy of Timur ; who granted it to the Mufulmans, but
made ilaves of the Chriftians. He ordered alfo four thou-
fand Armenian cavalry of the garrifon to be thrown into
pits, dug for the purpofe, and covered with earth j razing
at the fame time the walls of Siwas ^.
Timur, after this fuccefs, unwilling to crufh Ba-ye-
zid, inftead of penetrating farther into Rum, turned off
fajj teims, (Q^^j-^^g Syria; which he conquered from the foltan of
Egypt, in revenge for giving refuge to foltan Ahmed Je-
layr, and Kara Yufef, the Turkman ; after which con-
quefts he went and fubdued Ba-ghdad. While Timur was
thus employed, Bayezid, at the inftigation of thofe two
princes to revenge the ruin of Siwas, went and took Ar-
zenjan, after routing Taharten ; and fent that prince's wife
and children prifoners to Brufa, or Prufa. Timur, being
informed of thefe hoftilities, detached a large body of
troops, under the command of his fon, the Mirza Shah
Rukh, to attack Ba-yezid. But this foltan having fent am-
bafladors to Timur, with a letter full of fubmiffion, and
prevailed on Taharten himfelf, on promife of releafing his
family, to intercede for him in perfon, the Tatar monarch
was appeafed. However, he told the ambaflador, that
he expecled two things of his mafter, if he intended to
remove the caufe of quarrel between them ; one was, to
deliver to him the fortrefs of Kemak, which he faid belong*
ed to the countries under his obedience; the other was, ei-
ther to put Kara Yufef to death, to fend that robber and
murderer of merchants, the worft of villains, in chains to
him, or at leaft to expel him out of his dominions. He
promifed, in cafe of his compliance, not only to make
peace with him, but alfo to fend him powerful fuccours
7 Sharifo'ddtn's Hift. Timur, lib. v, cap. 13, & feqq.
aga
inft
Othrndn Empire^ 3^9
againft the infidels, whom he was at war with ; on account
of which wars, he faid, it was that he had forborn fo long'
to invade his territories.
Timor, having treated the Othman ambafladors with Hejra 804.
great honour, fent one of his own in their company, with ^-0.1402.
a letter to Ba-yezid ; and afterwards another. ' 'T'. IT"
When two months beyond the time agreed on for their chJUnacy, '
return were pafled, he grew impatient, and marched to-
wards Anatolia. Being arrived at the caftle of Kemak, he
befieged it-,^ and, having taken it, gave the government
tliereof to prince Taharten.
Fr-om thence he marched to Siwas, where one of his am-
baffadors met him with fre{h ambafladors from Ba-yezid,
and an anfwer to his letter, conceived in very haughty
term& ; which provoked Timur. Hov/ever, at difmiiling
thofe officers, he told them, that, confidering their mafler
employed his whole ftrength againft the Inlidels, he was
forry to be conftrained to invade his dominions ; and that
he v/a6 ftiil willing to live at peace v/ith him, provided he
only reftored the officers belonging to prince Taharten ;
and fent him one of his fons, who fhould be trea|:cd with
as much regard as his own.
Timur, having reviewed his troops in the plain of Siwas, Comes t§
was informed that Ba-yezid was arrived atTokat *, but be- ^"gori,
eaufe the road thither v/as full of forefts, he took that of
Kayfariyah, from whence he marched towards Ankora ;
which he vigoroufly attacked. There advice being brought
that Ba-yezid had advanced within four leagues, to relieve
the place, he raifed the fiege ; and halting after a fhort
march, caufed his camp to be inclofed by a trench forti-
fied with bucklers and palifades. He had the river which ^
waters the city behind' him; and as the Othmans had no
water, but that of a little fpring at the foot of a hill near
the paffagG of their army, he fent to deftroy it ^
Timur having fpent the night in prayer to God for vie- Order «/
tory, in the morning ranged his army (X) in order of bat- limur's
iKf'., The three bodies into which it was divided were ^^j^^^^'I**
commanded by the mirzas, his fens and grandchildren, af-
%ld s
swings.
2 Sbarifo'd. Ilifl:. Tim. lib. v, cap. 34—46.
(X) Khalkondylas makes the who was in the battle, fays the
army of Timur eight hundred firll had one miilion fix hun-
thoufand, and of Ba-yezid on- dred thoufand, and the latter
ly one hundred and twenty four hundred thoufandi Khalk.
thoufand ; but Schilperger, lib. iii. cap. 10.
Mod. Vol. IX. B b filled
370 Hyiory of the
fifted ty his moil: experienced captains, who ac^ed asHeu-
tenants-general under them. The mirzas Shah Rukh and
Kalil Sol tan were at the head of the left-wing ; the vaa
whereof was led by the mirza Soltan HufTeyn. The right-
wing was under the command of the mirza Miran Shah ;
and its van, of the mirza Abubekr. The main body con-
fifted of a vaft number of the greateft lords of Afia. Forty
colonels were at the head of the;r regiments on the right,
and as many on the left. The mirza Mehemed Soitan
was general of the whole body ; and before him was carried
the great Itaff, on whofe top was a red horfe-tail, and on
that a half-moon. He had for his lieutenants-general the
mirzas Pir Mehem.ed, OmarSheykh, Elkander, and other
princes, his brothers. Timur himfelf commanded the
body of referve, compofcd of forty complete companies.
He ordered feveral ranks of elephants, with fplendid trap-
pings and towers on their backs filled with archers, to be
poiled at the head of the whole army -, as well to intimi-
date the enemy, as to ferve for trophies of his Indian vic-
tories.
Ba-yezid alfo took care to draw up his army in order*
The right-vvring was commanded by Pafir Laus, an Euro-
pean (Y), his wife's brother, with twenty thoufand cavalry
of Europe, all armed in fteel from head to foot; fo that
nothing could be feeri but their eyes. Their armour was
fallened below the foot by a padlock, which was to be
opened before their cuirafs or helmet could be taken off.
The left was condu6ted by Mufulman Chelebi, fon of Ba-
yezid, and compofed of the troops of Anatolia. The main
body was commanded by Ba-yezid himfelf, having for his
lieutenants-general his three fons, Mufa, Ayfa, and Mof-
tafa. Mehemed Chelebi, furnamed Kirifiichi, the moll
Ikilful of his five fons, was at the head of the rear 5 and
had for his lieutenants fix paflias, with a great number of
other brave officers.
^he battle About ten in the morning the Tatar infantry, with their
kfgifis, bucklers before them, polled themfelves on the neighbour-
ing hills *, and while the Othmans advanced in good order>
and full of fpirits, the drum, was beaten for the battle to
begin, and the great cry, Surun ! made at the found of the
huge trumpet kerrenay. In this interval Timur alighted
to go to prayers ; then remounting, gave orders for at-
tacking the enemy.
• (Y)- This was Stephen, fon the r- in -law ; according to Du-
of Lazarus, Ba-yezid's bro- kas,
• ^ The
Othmdn Empire* 371
Tlie mrrza Ab-abekr, at the head of the van-guard of the
right- wing, began the battle, by a difcharge of arrows on
the Turks left-wing, commanded by Mufulman Chelebi,
Ba-yezid's eldefl fon, who performed noble a6iions 5 but
not being able to withfland the ftrength and intrepidity of
the Tatar troops, was forced to fly. The mirza Soitari
Huileyn, who commanded the van of Timur's left-wing,
fell on the enemy's right, and made a cruel {laughter; but
Timur perceiving that he had advanced too far, fent the
mirza Mehemed Soltan, at the head of all the behadrs, or
forlorn hope, to fupport him.
Thefe rufhing full fpeed into the Othman army, broke T'JjeTufh
the ranks, and put them into great diforder. Tlie Euro- p've ivaj*
peans, on the other hand, gave, marks of prodigious va*
lour, each party repulfing its adverfary by turns \ but at
length the Tatars gained the advantage, by the death of
Pefir Laus, and the llaughter of the infantry of the Turks
right-wing. The mirzas Pir Mehemed, Omar Sheykh,
and Eikander, who were lieutenants to their brother mirza
Mehemed Soltan, chafed the Othman infantry from the
hills where they v/ere polled. Timur perceiving the ene-
my began to give way, ordered the mirzas and amirs to
fail upon them with the whole army. Thefe generals ac-
cordingly advanced, fword in hand ; and made a terrible
flaughter.
While the mirza Mehemed Soltan routed the fi^ht- Are quite
wing, fix companies of his foldiers afcended a hill, which O'J^^-
properly was their poll. Ba-yezid obferving their fmxall ^'^'°'^^*
number, attacked them, at the head of his main body ;
•and having driven them from thence, drew up. his own
men on the fame ground. The fix companies having join-
ed the mirza rallied ; and being reinforced with feveral re-
giments, returned, with defign to attack Ba-yezid's main
body. The Othman emperor having from the hill care-
fully examined the difpofition of his army, and perceiving
the diforder, or rather defeat, of his two wings, whofe
foldiers fled to join him, he was feized with fear. Mean
while Timur having advanced with the mirza Shah Ri>kh,
penetrated into the midil of the enemy. The mirzas and
amirs of the right and left-wings halted thither likewife ;
and being come up, all the troops falling upon Ba-yezid,
furrounded him, with his army ; like beafl:s enclofed in the
circle of a chace.
The foltan, notwithftanding the miferable flate to which Ba-ye%U
he was reduced, maintained his ground all day, like a /'^^^ ^^-^^
brave hero and Ikilful warrior ; and, when night came on, ^^ ^^^^"'
B b 2 he
2 J 2, WJlory of the
he defcciiclcd from the hill, and fled ; but being vigoroufly
purfued, be was at Jaft overtaken and feized by Soltah-
Mabnuid Khan ; and, at fun-fet, prefented by the great
amirs to Timnr ; who, moved to fee fo great a prince in
that condition, ordered him to be unbound, and brought
before him with refpect (Z). He went to receive him at-
the door of his tent with great ceremony ; and making
him iit down by him, in mild terms accufed him of being
the caufe of his own misfortune, by refufmg to comply
with his reafonabie demands. Ba-yezid having confefled
the charge, and allied pardon, the conqueror gave him a
fplendid vefl, promifed to ufe neither him nor his friends
ill, and treated him as a great emperor. Tlie captive fol-
tari, perceiving Timur's generofity, befoughthim to order
fearch to be made for his fons Mufa and Mollafa, who
wer.e with him in the battle. Search was accordingly
made, but only Mufa was found. This prince, Timur,
after prefenting him a vefl, fent to his father ; for whom
he ordered a royal pavilion (A) to be ere£led near his own*.
/ttaiolia After this victory Yakub, governor of Siwas, delivered
laid wajie. the city and caflle to Timur, who then fent out feveral
detachments to fcour the coufitry on every fide, and ra-
vage all Anatolia; where the Tatars found fuch (tore of
wealth, that every man became rich with his (hare of the
plunder.
a Sharifo'd. lib. v. cap. 47 — 49,
(Z) Dukas fays, that Ta-
merlan kept him a long time
Handing at his tent door, while
he played at chefs vvitli his fon
Siacruc (Shah Rukh), the fol-
diers Itiouting for joy ; and
faying, '* Here is Ba-yezid,
general of the Turks, reduced
under yo\ir poWer, and Ibaded
with chaiiis." At lall^ Ta-
iTierlan bVesking off the ^ame,
and fooki hg at his priibner,
fafd-, ** Is this he who ordered
us to f<^arate ourfelves from
our wives, if we did not make
war upon him ?'* Ba-yezid
anfwered he was the perfon ;
but that the vit%r ought not
to infult the vanquifhed. The
conqueror then made him tit
oppofite to him, and comfort-
ed him, promifing not to put
him to death, or treat him
with the fame cruelty that he
had done others.
(A) Dukas relates, that his
fon Mohammed attempted to
deliver him by a palTage made
underiground to ^ the tent j
which was difcovered by the
guards, w^ho obferved the
earth to move ; but neither he
nor Khalkondylas mention any
thing of the iron cage, which
appears to be a Turkifli fiftion,
to difbonour Timur, by dif-
honouring their emperor.
The
Othm'dn Empire, 3/3
The mirza Mehemed Soltan was fent to Prufa to feize
the treafures of Ba-yezid ; but Mufulman Chelebi had got
■thither before him, and carried them off. However, he
leized the foltan's wife and two daughters, who had hid-
den themfelves at Yenifhahr, with the daughters of foltan
Ahmed Jelayr, king of Baghdad, whom Ba-yezid had de-
manded \n marriage for his fon MoRafa 5 but Kara Yufef
had fled before the battle into Arabia.
Prufa was burned, Nicea pillaged, and the country ra- Timur^s
vaged as far as the Thracian Bofphorus, over which Mu- S^-'^^y^^JI'
fuhinan Che|ebi fled ; leaving his wife and effects a prey to
his purfuers. Timur was then at Kyutahiyeh, a delight-
ful city, two days journey from Prufa, where he llaid a
rnonth ; during that time he rellored to Ba-yezid his wife
Deftina (B), daughter of Laus, with his daughter, and
all his domeftics; but was dedrous that princefs,,, who
till then had been tolerated in tke Chrifiian rajigion,
ihould embrace Mohammedifm. .On the other hand.
Amir Mehemed, fon of Karaman, who had for twelve
years been kept in chains by Ba-vezid, being brought to
court, Timur honoured him wita a veil and bdl:, and
gave him the government of ihe whole province of Ka^a-
jnania, \vith Koniyah, Laranda, Ak Saray^ Anzarya,
Alaya, and their dspendencies ^.
Timur, marching from Kyutahiyeh to Tangurlik, made
feafts and balls, to which Ba-yezid was invited for his en-
tertainment. The viclor did every thing to pleafe him,
and even bellowed on him the kingdom of Anatolia,
which he poflefTed before, by placing the crown on his
head, and granting him the patents ufual on thofe occa-
fions.
Timur from hence fent ambaiTadors to Conftantinople, Grieh em-
to fummon the Tekkur, or Greek emperor, to pay the perorfuh^
tribute and cuftoms : two meflengers were alfo difpatched '"'^''*
to Mufulman Chelebi, Ba-yezid's fon, who refided at
Guzelhiflar, oppolite to Constantinople, to tell him, that
he muft either repair to court, or fend Timur fome mo-
ney ; and that otherwife he would crofs the freights in
queft of him. Some time after the ambafladors returned,
with two deputies, from the Greek Tekkur, to notify their
mailer's fubmifhon. The meflengers likewife arrived
^ Sharifo'd, lib. v. cap. 50—52, Ducas, cap. 16, & feq.
(B) European romancers Timur kept her for i»i« owii
call her Roxanaj and pretend ufe.
B b 3 with
374 Hijlory of the
with Sheykli Ramadan, prime minifter to Ba-yezul, and
grand kadi of the empire, who brought a letter from Mu-
fuhna!! Chelebi, fignifying his obhgations for the favours
fliewn his father, and his readinefs to wait on Timur, if
it was his pleafure.
ChrlJIian Timur underitanding that there were on ij:i& fea-coaft
ni^^d *^^ ftrong fortrefles, named Ezmir, or Smyrna, one in-
habited by Mufulmans, the other by Chriftians ; he,
out of zeal to religion, went and befieged the latter,
which he took in fourteen days, not without great op-
pofition ; for it was built fo flrongly with free-flone,
i that Soltan, Morad had feveral times attempted it, and
Ba-yezid befieged it feven years in vain. To attack the
place on the fide of the fea, as well as land, they built in
the midfl of the water great fcafFolds, near one another.
From thence, to the two fides of the caftle, they made an
even way, which they fecured on each fide ; fo that the
Mufulmans, armed with their bucklers, fought on thofe
fcafFolds, and made their attacks as fecurely as on land ;
befides, the paiTage of the fea being thus fhut up, there was
no pofTibility of bringing any fuccour to the place. Mean
whil^ they at once battered and undermined the walls and
towers ; v/hen the fapping was finilhed, they fet fire to
the props, and, of a fudden, the baftions and curtains fell
down. The Mufulmans then entering the town, put the
inhabitants to the fword, after they had made a brave de-
fence. A few efcaped by fwimming to the (hips. Their
houfes were all demolifhed. Thofe of Foja, or Phocasa,
^ avoided the fame misfortune, by fubmitting to pay tri-
bute. At the fame time Sheykh Ramadan having come
a fecond time from Mufulman Chelebi, with rich pre-
fents and humble fubmiihons, Timur confirmed him in the
principality of Ifra Yaka, by patents fealed with his red
hand, and fent him a vefl woven with gold, a crown and
a belt. An ambalTador from IfTa Chelebi, another of Ba-
yezid's fons, was foon after received with honour.
Venth of Timur, before he left Ezmir, furnifhed the inhabitants
Ba-yeztd, Qjf |-}^g Mohammedan fortrefs with arms, and ordered
them to build a ftrong citadel near the place where the
Chriflian town flood, in order to hinder the Europeans
from ever fettling there in the fequel. Being come to
Soltan HifTar, he gave the cities of Kyutahiyeh, Tanguz-
lik, and Kara Shahr, with the province of Ghermianeyli,
to Yakub Chelebi, to whom they belonged by right of
fucceffion. Then he went and took the town of Egridur,
fituate on the lake Falak Abad, in the country of Hamid
Eyli,
Othmdn Emprre. 375
Eyii. Afterwards he marched on to Ak Shahr. At this
place Ba-yezid, who had fallen ill at Egridur, died of an
apoplexy, the 14th of Shaban, 805; which misfortune ^^'^^^^^^t
Timur bewailed with tears ; for he had refolved, after the ^' ^'
•conquell of AnatoHa, to reftore him to his throne. He
gave largelTes to Ba-yezid's officers •, and difmiffed Mufa
Chelebi, with a royal veft, a belt, a fword, and a quiver
inlaid with precious (tones, a load of gold, and thirty His pom-
horfes ; telling him, that his father's corpfe fhould be P^J^O^"^'
conveyed to Prufa, with pomp becoming the greateft king.
Timur, in leaving Anatolia, the conqueft of which he
atchieved in one year, carried with him the Kara Tatars,
fettled about Kayfariyah and Amafia, in order to re-people
fome lands in Tartary ^.
Ba-yezid reigned fourteen years three months, and lived Reign and
fifty-eight. He was famous for fortitude of mind and ce- ^''^^^^^*
lerity of action ; fubje£t to anger, but foon foftened into
clemency : To great a lover of architecture, that temples,
academies, and hofpitals were erected by him every year.
He was the firft of the Othman race who waged naval
wars ; having built about three hundred ilrong veflels for
that purpofe.
Concerning his fons, under the corrupted names of Er-
<logul, Ifla, Kalepin, Cyricelebis, and Cibelin, many
things are related by the Chriftlan writers, which appear
to be fictitious, both from the courfe of the hiftory, and
teftimony of the Turkifti authors. Thefe latter una-
nimoully afcribe to Ba-yezid four fons, Moitafa, who fell
in the battle, Solyman, Mufa, and Mohammed. Although
the three lalt fwayed the Turkifli fceptre, yet Mohammed
only is reckoned among the Othman emperors j becaufe
he enjoyed the whole empire, which neither of the other
two poflefled ; one governing in Europe, while the other
reigned in Afia \
Interregnum under Solyman Chelehl (C).
SOLYMAN, fecond fon of Ba-yezid, liaving efcaped Solymm
from the battle with his father's prime wazir, Ali Balha, ^^^^*^.*
e Sharifo'd. lib. v. cap. 53—63. dCant. Olhm. Hift. p.
56, & feq.
(<P) This Solyman Chelebi Calepin, which is a corruption
as the fame whom others call of Chelebi,
Mululmiin Chelebi, and fome
B b 4 Sea
376 Hijlory of the
Hed fiifl; to Nicea ; from whence he repaired to Adria-
nople, where he was faluted emperor by the remains of
the European army.
According to Dukas, Mufulman, who is the Solyman
of the Turkifli hiftorjans, paflfuig over from Alia to Con-
ftantinople, implored the protection of the emperor Ma-
nuel, who, on the defeat of Ba-yezid, refumed the fo-
vereign power, with the confent of the great officers ;
and defiring only the government of Thrace, with fome
other provinces, agreed to give up Theffalonica ^ the cities
along the Strymon.as far as Zetunion, together with the
Morea ; tlie places from Panida to the facred entrance,
and the forts on the Euxine fea, as far as Varna. After
matters were compromifed, the emperor fent him to
Adrianople, and difpatched proper perfons to receive
the above mentioned cities in his name, and drive out the
Turks ^
Timvir, on his arrival at Prufa, fent ambafTadors to that
prince, with a letter, importing, that he was forry for
liis father's unexpe£ced death ; and that, provided Ba-
yezid's family would only acknovvlege his clemency, he
would, inllead of an enemy, be a friend, nay, a father to
them. Solyman, inftead of complying with the conqueror's
propofal, treated his ambafladors injurloufly, and return-
him a proud anfv/er. Hereupon Timur fent for his bro-
ther Mufa Chelebi, and conferred the empire on him ;
faying, " Receive thy father's inheritance, for it is not
kingdoms, but a kingly mind I feek ^"
%taie c/ Dukas records that, after the Scythian or Tatar in-
inatQlia, vafion, while Thrace enjoyed a profound peace, the pro-
vinces of Afia were in great confufion, as well as afflifted
with the plague and famine. Karmian, furnamed Alifar,
by confent of Tamerlan, took poiTelTion of the countries
which belonged to his anceilors. Sarkan re-entered Ly-
dia ; Or Khan, and the two fens of A tin, Amir and Ifa,
had Ionia ; while Eli, fon of Mantakhia, enjoyed Karia
and Lycia. %
Mhummd Mohammed, fon of Ba-yezid, remained at 'Anoyra,
ihfeaiill^' with Mufa, his youngeft brother, in a private condition,
without any fovereign power; nor was Moftafa in abetter
flate. Hov/ever, Mohammed fent Temirta, who Jiad
been one of his father's generals, to attack Ifa, whom he
took and flew ; an exploit which raifed both the reputa-
tion and power of his mailer in Galatia.
« DukaS/ cap. 18. ^ Cant, p- 59.
Mean
Oihmdn Emfine, )g*m
Mean while one Cineis, wliofe father, Kara Su Baflia, Exploits of
having been for a long time governor of Smyrna, was Chuneid
•highly efteemed by the people of Ionia, made war againft ^^5*
the two fons of Atin, who poflefled Ephefus, which he
took in a few days ; and then fent to tell Mufulman, it
was for him that he had conquered the principaUty of
Atin. At the fame time he demanded fuccours to make
head againft his enemies; which being fent him from
Kallipolis, the fons of Atin were driven out of the country.
In the fpring, two years after the Scythian invafion, Ws father
Amir, whofe brother was dead, retired to the court of '<<^^«'
Mantakhia, Elie-beg, prince of Karia, his uncle; who,
at his requeft, marched with him, at the head of fix thou- ,
fand men, towards Ephefus, where Karafu commanded
with three thoufand men, and made a ftout defence. But
the enemy having fired the city, the inhabitants furrender-
ed it; and Kara Su Baflia retired into the citadel, \vhere
•he held out till autumn, expelling relief from his fori Ci-
neis, who was at Smyrna. He then yielded the place to
the conqueror, who carried him into his dominions ; and
imprifoned him with others in the fort of Mamala.
Although Cineis could not fuccour his father by land, Set at li»
he affifted him by fea : for arriving at the fort in a galley, berij»
he gave notice to the prifoners ; who, making their guards
drunk, let themfelves down by ropes in the night, and
efcaped to Smyrna. Towards winter, Cineis marched to
attack Ephefus ; v/hich, on Amir's retiring into the cita-
del, he plundered, and committed unheard of cruelties.
At length, on promife of his daughter in marriage, Amir Agrees
came forth, and embraced Cineis ; who proclaimed him ivUh ^-
lieutenant-general of the country of Atin, and (hook off ^''^'''
Mufulman's yoke.
Cineis afterwards, accompanied by Amir, vlfited his Seizes JJ"
territories, and drew over tohisintercft the cities fituatcd ^i"*
on the Menander, with thofe of Philadelphia, Sardes, and
Nymphea, as far as the river Hermon ; making his rela-
tions and friends governors. In ihort, while he was at
Ephefus with his future fon-in-law, it was reported of a
fudden that the duke (D) was dead ; and next morning his
corpfe was carried to Fort Pirgion, near Mount Tmolus,
there to be buried in'the fepulchre of his anceftors.
Then Cineis, taking on him the government as an inhe- Excites th£
ritance, fet up for a fovereign prince in Afia : but Muful- -^^^^^
man refolved to humble him; and crofllng over to Prufa, ^^^^l^i
_ _, . . MululmaH,
(D j That is, Amir.
was
378 Ht[lory of the
was received with great joy. While he was raifing forces
for that purpofe, in the beginning of fpring, Cineis re-
paired fiill to Karaman, at Kogni, and then to Karmian,
at Kctiayon *, whom, after putting them in mind of what
they had fuffered from Ba-yezid, he advifed not to wait
till the ferpent he had left behind fwallowed them all up,
but to crulh him before he grew too powerful.
Induced by thefe reafons, they accompanied him to
Ephefus, with their forces. Karaman brought thirty thou-
fand men, Karmian ten thoufand, and Cineis had five
thoufand. Mean while Mufulman, with twenty-five thou-
fand troops, marched by Lopadion, and the field of Mo-
nomene, to Smyrna. Being fomewhat difturbed at the
jun£lion of thofe two princes, he proceeded to Mefaullon,
near Ephefus, where he intrenched himfelf, for fear of the
enemy. The two armies were but fix leagues af under, yet
durft not venture to approach one another.
Frj£s to Durin.^ this fufpenfjon, Cineis was informed by an in-
Mufulmdt:, timate friend, that Karaman and Karmian intended to
feize him that night, and make their peace with Muful-
man, by delivering him up. Cineis, on this advice, or-
dered candles to be lighted in his tent, and rode pofl-hafte
to the citadel, of which his brother Ba-yezid was gover-
nor. Him he exhorted to defend the place till next day :
then in the night repaired to the camp of Mufulman, with
a cord about his neck, and confeffing his guilt, fubmitted
to his mercy. Mufulman forgave, and prefented him with
a rich veil; then marched towards Ephefus. The two
princes having been to look for Cineis at midnight, in his
tent, and not finding him, v/ere in fear of being furprif-
cd. The army, in confufion, began to pack up their bag-
gage 5 and, at fun-rife, while they forded the Menander
on one fide, Mufulm-an crofied it with his army over a
bridge near Mount Galefius, and entered Ephefus. Cineis
preilcd him to purfue the enemy ; but he, not caring to
trull him, would not follow his advice. In fliort, he en-
camped thereabout, and flayed four months, wholly plung-
ed in debaucliery and pleafures, to which he was flrange-
iy addlded 5.
Defeats Let us now return to the Turklfli hlflorians. Soly-
^^J^* man, upon the ncy/s that Timur had advanced his brother
Mufa to the throne, pafied into Afia with the European
forces, and marched direftly to Prufa. From thence Mu-
fa, being much inferior in flrength, fled to Karaman-ogli :
£ Dukas, cap. iC.
but
Othmdn Empire. 379
but not thinking himfelf fafe there, refoh'cd to retire to
Isfendar-beg ; from which defign he was diverted by the
ambafiadors of that prince, who apprehended Solyman's
refentment. Nor did he judge amifs, for Solyman pre-
fentlv advanced towards Isfendar-beg's dominions : but
being made fenfible that his brother was not there, he re-
turned to Prufa j where, defpifing Mufa's attempts, he
gave himfelf wholly up to gluttony and drunkcnnefs. His
brother Mohammed, prince of Amafia, having fent am-
baifadors to falute him emperor, and offer prefents, he
fpoke very fliarply to them, and difmifled them without
any anfwer ; which imprudent conduct alienated Moham-
med's affection from him, and proved extremely prejudi-
cial to his affairs.
Mean while, Mufa Chelebi, who, after Isfendar-beg's His luxury^
repulfe, had crolTed into Europe in a little boat, which he
found near Nicea, wandered through feveral countries,
and at laft flopped in "Walakhia. There aflembling a great
number of foldiers, who were in his interefl ; and being
affifted by Walakhian troops, he re-entered the Turkifh
empire, and became mailer of Adrianople. His progrefs
awaking Solyman from hi.s dream of luxury, he, in 809, Hejra 809.
affembled the Afiatic army, and paiTed into Europe. But ^^' '4-o6.
Mufa, either through natural timoroufnefs, or diftruft of •""-"——
his own ftrength, not daring to fland a battle, returned
to Walakhia : while Solyman, afcribing his fuccefTes
wholly to his own bravery and prudence, relapfed into his
former vices. Military difcipline was neglecled ; honours
were conferred on wine-fellers and pimps ; in a word,
the court had the appearance of a brothel, rather than a
fchool of virtue.
Mufa Chelebi, thinking he might turn his brother's lux- He is killed*
ury to his advantage, appHed fecretly, by letters, to the
generals and great men ; who, offended with Solyman's
exceffes, were eafily perfuaded to revolt. In effe£l, Mu-
fa re-affembling an army, by long marches arrived at A-
drianople, before his brother knew any thing of the mat-
ter ; who being vv'holly unprepared to oppofehim, left the
city, in order to fly to Conflaniinople : but loitering by
the way, to indulge himfelf in drinking, he was taken in
a bath at a certain village, and llain by one of the foldiers
of Mufa ; who ordered the body to be buried in the fepul-
chre of his grandfather Morad, called Khodavendikar^.
Dukas relates the death of Mufulman, or Solyman, in On lohat
occafion*
^ Cant, ubi fupr. p. 60. 6j.
a dif.
j8p
Kts cha'
Hijlory of the
a difTerent manner. According to him, that prince diC-
parting from Adrianople to go to Conflantinople, with
only a fev/ horfe, they deferted him on the road, to join
Mufa's party •, fo that entering alone into a fmall town,
whofe inhabitants, from the richnefs of his habit, judged
•him to be a prince, five young men ran to meet him with
•thck bov/s. At this falutation being furprifed, he iliot
o-tw.o of them dead : hereupon the other three making a
"ftand, to revenge the lofs of their brothers, (hot at him all
.together^ and having brought him ofF his horfe, cut oiF
his head.
Mufa, who was received with acclamations at x^drla-
•nople, bewailed his brother's death, and caufed his body
to be pompoufly buried at Prufa. He likewife ordered die
three young men, who haxi killed him, to be apprehend-
ed ; and having aflembled the inhabitants of the place,
commanded them to be bound, and burnt in their ref-
pe6live houfes, with their wives and children '.
Solyman ruled affairs feven years and ten months. He
was a young man, far exceeding the reft of his brothers
both in good and bad qualities ; a valiant and moft fortu-
nate general ; a prince of great clemency an.d g-^nerofity \
but ruined by his luxury.
Mvja Cht'
Ubi.
He defeats
t^eMun-
garians i
Interregmtyi under Mnfa Chekhl*
WHILE Mufa reaped the reward of his labours 9t
Adrianople, in being Jaluted emperor by the European
.army, Mohammed, lord of Amafia, railing forces in or-
der to revenge the murder of Solyman, v/ho was his bro-
ther by the fame venter, marched .to Prufa, which he
furprifed; and was there Xaluted emperor *by his ar-
my. But thinking it prudent to fettle the affairs of Afia
before he publiflied his refolution to depofe Mufa, he
marched againll the plundering Tartars, and other bands
of robbers, who, fince Timinr's invafion, had infeiled
Anatolia.; thefe he extirpated In the firft year of his rejgn.
He fui^riild, took, and beheaded Karadewlet Shah, the
only furviving leader of thofe Tartars; who, in his ab-
fence, was deftroying the country about Amafia: Xo that
in a fnort time peace was redored ^
Mufa Chelebi, alarmed at Mohammed's fucceffes, in
order to divert him from any attempts againft the weftern
i Dukas, cap. ij?.
k Cant.,qbi /upr. p. 64, 65. 7S.
part
Othmdn Empire, pSt
part of the empire, offered torefignhim all the caft; and, Hrjr^ Si?.
to Ihew that his propofal was fincere, in 814, turned his ^^- *^'**
arms ^gainft the Chriftians. Fortune proving favourable *
to him, he took the towns of Peraverd and Matruna, in
the Morea. Elated with this fuccefs, he, next year at-
tempted greater things ; and, afiembling a ftronger army,
attacked the Hungarians, under their king ciigifmond,
near the city of >Samandr!a, not far from the Danube,
where they were defeated with great flaughter. It is faid
that nothing encumbered the enemy fo much as the im-
menfe quantity of riches they brought with them, fo that
the janizaries meafured the gold and filver, which was
found in their tents, in bowls and hats. The reft of the fpoil
ftipplied the charge of building a large temple called Jami
Aiik, or f/^^c/^y«;?ji, which is infcribed with Mufa'sname.
But this great honour gained to the Turkifh arms could Eetrayel
not fecure Mufa Chelebi, otherwife a prince of an excel- h ^^" #•
lent\ difpofition, from the frowns of fortune : for, about ^^''■^*
this time. Korfliah Muluky and the famous general Ornus
Beg, without any provocation, revolted to Mohammed ;
iignifying to him by letters, that the Othman empire,
weakened by two civil diffeniions, would not bear to be
governed by two heads ; and that the whole army, ob-
ferving Mufa's timorous nature, were of opinion the em-
pire fliould be conferred on him alone. They therefore
defired him to haften over, promifing to put the whole into
his poficiTion.
Mohammed Chelebi, at the receipt of thefe letters, Defeat»J
prepared to crofs into Europe. On the other hand, Mufa ^ Moham*,
affembled his army, in order to fecure the ftraits of Kalli^- *"
polis before his brother's arrival ; but finding his generals
only made a fliew of lighting, he, in the very heat of the
battle, withdrew out of the field, and efcaped into Laz
Vilayti, or Scrvia ; while Mohammed, prevented by the
feafon from proceeding any farther^ returned with his army
to winter at Frufa. Mufa Chelebi, alliiled b„y his old
friend the prince of Servia with Warlike Itores and forces,
returned the fame winter into his empire, and became
fnafter of Adrianople, which was deftitute of a garrifon.
There he found Korfliah and Ornus ^^%y whom Moham-
med left defignedly in Europe ; and eitliier becaufe he faw
that they could not efFeft their intentions, or influenced
by his Own merciful temper, he both pardons and receives
them into favour.
But the event Ihewed, that however good it m.ay be in a Ruwd ij
prince to pardon, he ought never to trull a traitor : for rr^ercj,
thdQ ungrateful generals invited Mohammed a fecond
time
3^2
Taken f a7id
Heira 8i6.
A.D.1413.
T>efi^ns
cgainji
Creecg'
Subdues
Serifia.
Befie^fs
(^onftan-
H'i/lory of the
time to feize the empire , who, coming froPxi Nicea with
a greater army, paiTed the Bofphorus by the permiffion of
the IltambcslKaylari, or Greek eraperor, under the walls
of Conllantinople. The fame day he entered the city,
and was honourably received by the emperor, who made
him rich prefents. On the third day he fet out for Adri-
anople, and in the fecond day's march was met by Kor-
ihah Mukili and Ornus Beg ; who, having withdrawn
from thence in the night, fell proftrate at his feet ; and
kiffing the ground, faiuted him emperor in the name of
the European army.
Mufa Chelebi, defertedby his people, refclved to retire
to his old fan£luary in Servia ; but, being fcarce out of the
fuburbs, he was furprifed by Mohammed, who had ad-
vanced before with a fele6l band of foldiers. Defpair ren-
dering him valiant, he "drew, up his men, and fought with
great bravery ; but being overpowered by numbers, at
laft betook himfeif to flight, yet was foon overtaken by a
horfeman, and brought to his brother, who inftantly put:
him to death; after he had adminiftered the^Turkiih af-'
fairs in Europe three years and fix months. This event;
happened in the year of the Hejra 816". Mohammed, to
reward the foldier, made him one of his counfellors, and
at lail advanced, him to the prime wazirilnp. He after-
wards became a famous general '".
Tiie ftory of Mufa is told by Dukas very diiTerentlyin
almoll every circumilance. This prhice, fays he, after
the death of Mufulman, or Solyman, having alTembled all
the great men of Thrace, . Macedonia, and other pro-
vinces, told them, that none but the em.peror of the Greeks
had brought the Scythians, Perfians, and other foreign na-
tions down upon them ; that it was not juit that Conftan-
tinopje fhould extend its empire fo wide, and poffefs fo great
a number of cities, efpecially Theffalonika, which had coil
his father Ba-yezid fo much trouble to fubdue ; that there-
fore he Vv'as refolved, if pofTible, to take the INIother of Ci-
ties, and change the temples of idols into temples of God
and their prophet.
His rcfolution being applauded by the aiicmbly, he
marched and fubdued Servia, which Stephen, fon of* La-
zarus, abandoned at the news of his approach. There he
ravaged the country, carried off the handiomell young
men, and put the reft to the fword, feafling his great of-
ficers over the dead bodies of Chriftians. .
Soon after his return he fent to beliege ThefTalonika ;
and having taken every thing v/hich is. beyond the Stry-
'•'■ C'aiiL ul^iiupi-. p. 65 — 6S.
mon,
Othmdn Empire, 383
mon, except Seturion, marched towards Conft^ntinople,
As he round the towns through which he paffed empty of
people, whom Manuel had brought into the metrcpoHs, he -
reduced them to aihes. The befieged were fo fortunate in
their fallies that they killed three furks for every friend
they loll ; but as Mufa could better fpare ten foldlers than ^ j)^ j^,
the emperor one, and carried on the attack with great vi- •
gour, Manuel fent to Mohammed his brother, who v/as at
Prufa, to come to his alliftance, and try to obtain the
Othman empire at the lame time. Mohammed being ar^ MaJwwet ,
rived with his troops at Skutari, the emperor v/ent with his A"^/'"'*
^allies, and brought him over to Conitantinople, where
he was received with great magnificence. Mahomet hav-
ing been defeated in two fallies, intr^ated Manuel to let
him lead his troops towards Adrianople ; from which
courfe he propofed more advantage to both their affairs
than by continuing in the city. The emperor gave his
confent ; and next day Mohmmed fet out, fending one
half of his forces towards the Euxine fea, and dire£ling
his march with the ether half to Adrianople.
As foon as Mufa was informed of his departure, he pur-- Mufa de^
fued the troops which took the route of the Euxine itz^ f^^feJ^ auJ
and came up v/ith them ; but, being defeated, his foldiers -^'^^"^
lifted under Mohammed's enfigns. Mufa fled, and fell in a
marlh, where he killed an officer of the enemy who pur-:
fued him. One of the officer's fervants, willing to revenge,
his mafter's death, ran at the prince, and, having cut off
one of his arms, went and informed the Emperor of what"
had happened. Mufa had loft fo great a quantity, of blood
from the wound, that when they came to look for him,
they found him fallen off his horfe, and dead. The body
was carried to Mohamm.ed, who having vv^ept over it, ac-
cording to cuftom, fent it to be buried at Prufa : then he
returned to Adrianople, where he received the homage of
the great men ".
We muft leave the reader to judge at his leifure, which Remark,
hiftory deferves belief moft, with regard to the affair in
queftion, the Turkiffi or the Greek ; and fhall only ob-
ferve, that Dukas feems to deferve full credit, efpecially
with regard to the manner of Mohamm.ed's obtaining the.
grown by means of the emperor Manuel's invitation, as.'
well as of Mufa's death, that author having been upon the
fpot when thofe affairs happened : his account as to Mo-
hammed appears confirmed by the confiderable ceffions
» Dakas, cap, 19.
3^4 Hiftory of the
made by that foltan to the emperor, and the regard he
paid hem during his reign.
SEC T.
VI.
Hejra 8i6.
A.D.1413.
Saltan
Moham-
med U
humbles
Karaman
and Isjan-
diar Beg,
The Reign of Mohammed L
TiyflrOHAMMED, immediately after the death of his
-^ ■*■ brother Mufa, was proclaimed at Adrianople em^
perot of the Ali Othman dominions, in the thirty-ninth
year of his age : but he was fcarce fettled on the throne,
when he was threatened with depofftion ; for Karam.an
Ogli thinking this a proper juncture, when the Otlimans
were embroiled in civil wars, to crufh their power, af-
fembled his forces ; and laying wafte all Bithynia, en-
camped under the walls of Prufa, burned the fuburbs,
and clofely befieged the city one-and-thirty days. Mo-
hammed, informed of his proceedings, crolTed the ftreights
of Kallipolis with his army, and ffcrengthened his forces
with thofe of Sab Beg and Ghermian Ogli ; but Kara-
man having intelligence of his arrival, inftantly withdrew
from before Prufa : putting on the nekkerkhief (E), and
entering the emperor's camp, he confefled his fault dn his
knees, and afked pardon ; which was granted him^ on
certain conditions.
Next year Mohammed erecSled at Prufa a large jami,
imaret, and madrefeh, with a fpacious khan, or exchange,
for the ufe of merchants : but, whilft he thought to take
fome repofe, Karaman, hearing that his forces were dif-
mifled, broke the treaty without caufe,^ and invaded his
dominions. The emperor, full of indignation, marched
again ft him with a body of chofen troops, and put him
to flight, though he fought bravely. Both the aggreilbr
and his fon were taken prifoners, and brought before Mo-
hammed-, who, -reproaching him for his breach of faith,
faid,, '« It was thy part to com^mit the treachery, and it is
mine to a£l agreeably to my dignity ; for it is inconfiflent
with the imperial honour to return like for like to v^icked
and profligate men." With thefe words the emperor dif-
uiiffed him, and reftored him his provinces ; only placing
^ (E) A Turkilh phrafe, fig-
miy m^furrencler, or 2i petition
for grace and favour^ called
man. Hence the faying, he
put on the nekkerkhief, that is,
he declared himfelf hii fuhjcdl for
the future. Cant,
garrifons
Othmdn Empire. ^8^
garrifons in Sivrihiffar, Nukteydak, Enifliahri, Sedi Shari,
Numad, and Ayn.
Karaman being thus humbled, Mohammed thought
proper to chaftife Isfindar Beg, prince of Kaftamoni, who
was h^s confederate in the expedition. Accordingly,
marching againft him, he took the principal towns of that
country and Janik. Next year he reduced other places, as
Buri, Jigha, Tofia, Bakirkurefi, with Changhiri, where
Isfandiar refided, and diftributed that prince's treafures
among the foldiers. At the fame time he built a ftately
palace at Amaiia^
Dukas places this tranfaftion fomewhat later in time. A.D. 1414..
According to that hiilorian, the emperor Manuel, pre- 7—
fently after Mohammed's elevation to the empire, fent ^^^^^^^'i'
fome of his. chief officers to put him in mind of the pro- f^^^2!
mifes he had made him while at Conftantinople. The
new foltan faithfully difcharged his engagements, reftor-
ing the forts about the Euxine fea and the Propontis, with
thofe of Theflaly ; and difmiffing the ambafladors, loaded
with prefents, " Tell the emperor my father (faidhe) that
having been eftablifhed by his fuccours and the grace of
God in the throne of my ancestors, I (hall for the time to
come be as obedient to his will as a fon ought to be to the
will of his father ; nor will ever fail to acknowlege his fa-
vours. Whatever he orders me to do, I fhail execute with
pleafure and difpatch." He gave likewife a kind recep-
tion to the ambafladors of Se-rvia, Walakhia, Bulgaria, of
tluke Joannina, the defpot of Lacedsernon, and the prince
of Akhaia ; did them the honour to make them eat at his
own table, drank to their health, and at their audience of
leave, faid, " Tell your mafters that I oft^r them peace ;
that I accept of that which they offer me ; and that I hope
the God of peace will punifh thofe who violate the treaty."
Afterwards Manuel, failing to the Morea, reduced to Mormr4\
his obedience the prince of Akhaia, and the Navarrois. duced, ,\
Then leaving his fon the defpot behind, in his return con-
ferred, at Kallipoli, with Soltan Mohammed, %vho went
aboard his galley, and dined with him.
Mohammed, having fettled the affairs of Europe, pafled Prufarei
into Afia, and rebuilt the edifices which had been burned *«^^'«
•at Prufa by Karaman ; who had plundered that city, and
burnt the body of Ba-yezid, in jrcvenge, for having put his
father to death at Kogni.
f Can, ubi fupr. p. 7a.
Mod. Vol. IX. C c . JI^.
2 86 Hijlory of the
Chuneii He afterwards marched againfl Cineis, who, a little be-
takes fore the foltan had declared himfelf againft his brother
Ephtft^i' Mufa, fled from Thrace, and pairing into Afia, raifed an
army of Smyrnians and Thyreans, with which he took
Ephefus. The refufal of Cineis to furrender the places
"vdiich he had feizcd, was the occafion of this expedition
of the foltan ; who, having taken from him the city of
Cima, the fort of Archangel, called by the Turks, Kag-
hiafik, fituate in the field of Menomcna, with the city of
Nymphatum, at length fat down before Smyrna, where
Cineis had left his mother, his children, and Ba-yezid his
brother. On the firil news of the foltan's arrival, the go-
vernors of the neighbouring iflands, who hated Cineis, ran
to receive him. The princes of Phocca, Karmian prince
of the Higher Phrygia, Mentakhia prince of. Karia, the
prince of Lefbos, the prince of Khio, the great mafter
of Rhodes, and others, came to wait on him, and were
received as kindly as if they had been his brethren. The
city being furrendered to him on the tenth day of the fiege,
in which he was alhlfed by thofe princes, he demolifiied
the fortifications, but fufFered the inhabitants toiemain.
^ He likewife ordered the citadel to be ruined \ which,
demo'iM ^^^^^"g hctn deftroyed by Timur, the grand-m after of
Rhodes had half rebuilt, in fpite of Cineis. He was excited
to this meafure by the JMohammedans in thofe parts, who
complained that it ferved to encourage the Ionian Haves to
run away from their mafters. The great mafter, who was
very angry at his proceeding, threatened to make reprifals
on his coafts, unlefs he fulFered him to rebuild that fort.
Mohammed anfwered with great moderation, and, after
fhewing the neceflity there was of deftroying that fort, as
it was a continual caufe of quarrels between the knights
of Rhodes and the Turks, gave him leave to build another
Ch 'd ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ borders of Karia and Lycea, He heard no lefs
Bee/ub' favourably the demands of the princes of Khio, Lefbos,
mits* and the Phoceans, fending them all away well fatisfied.
He likewife pardoned Cineis, who came and took the oath
of fidelity to him. 'i'hen giving the government of that
province to the fon of Alexander Sufman, whom he had
brought over to his religion, he returned into Europe.
When Mohammed came to Kallipoli, he fent a fleet
"^•^•^^'^ againft the duke of Naxos, and other iflands in the Archi-
TT^^ pelago, becaufe he had not been to falute him, either at
fleet de- Smyrna, or fince his return. The fleet, confifting of thirty
jiroyedby gallies, commanded by Ghiali Beg, landed at the ifles of
iheVem- Andres, Pares, and Milos, where they did great mifchief.
Othmdn Empire* 387
The Venetians in the fpring came to affifl: the dulce, who
was in their interett, with ten gallies, feven of which
pafled up the ftreights of Hellefpont as far as Lampfakus,
in order to meet the Turks ; who, coming out of the har-
bour of KalHpolis> the Venetians began the attack on the
admiral-galley, and flew all the men, with the admiral
himfelf : they ferved the reft of the velTels in the fame
manner, in fight of the wives and children of the Turks,
who ftood on fhore. In the evening they founded a re-
treat, and carried back to Tenedos twenty-feven gallies of
the enemy j where they put to death all the Turks, and
fuch Chriftians as were in their pay.
Next fpring the Venetian fleet came to attack a tower of
Lampfakus, built by Mufulman ; but, being hindered from
landing by Khamfas, brother of the grand wazir B-ayezid,
who commanded a body of ten thoufand men, they failed
to Conftantinople, after having beat down half of the tower
from their (liips.
About the fame time one Prekllghia Moftafa, a Turkifli A pretend^
peafant, fignalized himfelf by preaching up a voluntary edprophet
poverty, and a community of all things, except women. ^^ .^^^^
lie wore only a fingle coat, and went with his head and
feet bare. He appeared near the mountain Stilairum, at
the mouth of the Ionic gulf, oppofite the ifle of Khio.
His difclples pretended to be very fond of the Chriftians,
and even to believe the fame faith. Two of them were fent
by him to an old Greek monk in Kandia ; who, after that
cried up Preklighia, pretending he was in the fame mo-
naftery with himfelf at Samos, and that he crofled the fea
on foot every day to converfe with him. Sufman's fon,
who had the government of Ionia, marching againft Prek-
lighia, was defeated by the inhabitants of the mountain,
who affembled to the number of fix thoufand. They in
like manner put to flight Hali Beg, governor of Lydia, and
killed a great number of his men.
In confequence of this diflurbance, foltan Mohammed
fent his fon Amurat, or Mcrad, only twelve years old,
accompanied by his grand v/azir Ba-yezid ; who, forcing
the pafles of the mountains with their troops, put all the
i»nbabitants to the fword, till they came to the place which
was guarded by men with one coat, where they met with
a ftout refiftance ; but, after lofing a great many men, the
falfe monk and his difciples were obliged to furrender.
They were all put to death, not one of them recanting.
The impoftor himfelf, after enduring various torments,
was nailed to a crofs, and carried through the ftreets of
C c 2 Ephefus.
388
Mordei at
Amafia.
Hejra 820.
A.D.1418
Wala-
khians
bridled.
Mojiafa,
an im-
poJioKy ap-
pears in
fTaiakhia.
Hiftory of the
Ephefus. They believed he would come again ; and Du-
kas, our author, met with a monk who affirmed that he
was not dead. B^-yezid led his army back through Aha
and Lydia, where he liew all the Turkiili monks he met
with, who made profeihon of voluntary poverty.
At his return to Adrianople, Mohp.mmed gave his fon
Morad, though fo young, the government of Amafia, un-
der the direStion of an able counfellor, named Georgei
Beg. This government bordered on the Perfian Turks,
who were neighbours to the Zazians and Perfians, and
lived under the command of Karayuiuk, fon-in-law o£
Alexis, emperor of Trebizond s.
Let us now in our turn have recourfe to the Turkifh
hiftorians. Mohammed, having weakened his enemies in
Afia, repaired to Adrianople, and from thence marched
againft the Walakhians, whom he routed -, then, ravaging
the country, took Severin, with the caftles of Sakche and
Kala, fituate beyond the Danube. He hkewife fortified
Ghirghiow with new works and a garrifon ; fo that the
Walakhians could no more pafs that river. Being thus
pent up, and defpairing to preferve their liberty, they fub-
mitted to pay an annual tribute ; the fons of the prince and
three great men being given as hoftages : but the fruits of
all his victories had like to have been wrelled from him
by an impoftor, the domeftic of a petty prince, called Pe-
der Ulledin, and Semadin Ogli. This man pretending to
be Moftafa, Ba-yezid's eldelt fon, who fell in the battle
with Timur, and, being aflifted by his mafter, gathered a
numerous band of followers, with whom he deftroyed Za-
gara and the neighbouring countries. Next fpring he be-
JiegedNicea; a circumftance which alarming the court,
Mohammed crofled over into Afia with his forces. The
counterfeit Moftafa raifed the fiege, and boldly marched
with his followers againfl the emperor j but at the firft
charge was put to flight, and being taken with his lord,
they were both hanged ^.
This interefting affair is very differently related by Du-
kas ; and, from the circumflances, we flioiild think with
more truth. This hillorian informs us, that in fpring
Mohammed palTed with a great army into Afia (F) -, and
being informed, at his return to Adrianople, that Mofla-
g Dukas, cap. 20, & feqq, ^ Cant. ubi. fupr. p. 74, & feqq.
(F) This was in his expedition againft Karaman, as mentioned
in a former note.
fa.
Othmdn Empire, ^ 389
fit, the youngeft of Ba-yezid's fons was in "VValakhIa, he
fent two trulty perfons to take ofFthe head of Cineis, whom
he had made governor of Nikopohs, on'the Danube, in
order to defend the frontiers on that fide : but that crafty
traitor had fled beforehand to Moftafa, and taken the oath
of lidehty to him. Thefe two having croiTed the Danube,
and entered ThefTaly with a confiderable force of Turks
and Walakhians, Mohammed marched in queft of them j
and, having routed their army, purfued them to the gates
of Theflalonika, where they were very kindly received by
Demetrius Laflcaris. Leontarius and Mohammed next
day fent to demand them, threatening otherwife to befiege
the city ; yet Laikaris refufed to comply, without acquaint-
ing the emperor with the atfair.
The fohan at the fame time wrote to the emperor, de- Manuel
firing that what had happened might not diflurb the good P^^^^^f
underilanding which was between them. Manuel, after "''*
having declared that he could not without diftionour deli-
ver up a refugee, promifed to detain Mollafa and Cineis
prifoners fo long as Mohammed lived ; who, on the em- •
peror's demand, allowed three hundred thoufand afpers a
year for their maintenance, and gave him liberty to difpofe
of them after his own death as he, the emperor, fliould
think fit, or his fuccelTors ihould deferve. This agreement
was reduced to writing, and confirmed by the emperor's
oath. Moftafa and Cineis were hereupon, confined at Con-
llantinople ; but, for fear they Ihould efcape, were fome
time after, for more fecurity, tranfmitted. to Lemnos.
The fame author alfo places the invafion of Walakhia after A-D. 14*0.
the rebellion of Moftafa, as a punirnment for encouraging " ■
hisdefigns; but only fays, the army fent by Mohammed
ravaged that country with fire and fword, without men-
tioning its fubmiffion to become tributary.
At this time a native of Philadelphia, a cunning knave, Treacher'
who, during the Scythian invafion, informed againft the ous inter-'
rich Chriftians, many of whom were tortured and put to P^^ ^^*
death, for not paying the fums demanded, put himfelf
into the fervice of an officer of the court ; and, for want
of an interpreter, was employed foon after in that capacity.
By thefe means this perfon, who was called the Theolo-
gian, contracted an intimacy with Ba-yezid (G), Moham-
med's
(G) This Ba-yezid, accord- hammed in all his misfortunes^
ingto Dukas, was an Albanian He>fufFered incredible fatigues
ilave, who had followed Mo- toiyvfe-himj when, after the
C cU death
390 Hiflory of the
jned's prime wazir, to whom he betrayed the fecrets of the
Romans ; whereby he arrived to fuch a degree of honour
that he became the emperor's chief interpreter, and often
dined with Ba-yezid,and Mohammed himfelf; yet although
he was fufpedled by the Romans, the emperor never had
. the leaft diftruft of hini. But the fudden death of Moham-
med ruined all his evil defigns '.
Hejra 8*4, We muft return once more to the Turkifh hiftorians, to
A.D.1411. finifh the reign of Mohammed. According to them, the
* rebellion being quelled, that prince, in 824, took Eflct
Moham^ Gheliboli, or Old Kallipolis, Tarkli, and Herghe ; but at
me tes. j^jg return from this expedition he was feizedwith a dyfen-
tery, of which he died. Murad, his eldefl; fon, whom he
had appointed by will for his fucceflbr, being then at war
with part of the army in Rum-ili, or Thrace, the prime
waz'ir Ibrahim (H) concealed the emperor's death for one-
and-forty days, in fuch a manner that not one of the lords
of the court had the leaft intimation of it, whilft he himfelf
directed affairs as if by his matter's order. At Morad's re-
turn he delivered up to him the army and kingdom. This
Ibrahim is called by the Turks their Ulyftes, and had the
title of khan given him by the new emperor for this piece
of fervice ^ (I).
Hisfotts. According to Dukas, when Mohammed was near his
end, he fent for his wazir Ba-yezid, and conjured him to
fet his fon Morad on the throne. The two youngeft, one
eight, the other but feven years old, he alfigned to the
care of the emperor Manuel, for fear Morad fhould ftrangle
them •, as he afterwards did. The foltaa thought by thefe
1 Dukas, cap. 27, 42. ^ Cant, ubi fupra, p. 76.
death of his father, he was zirs, this Ibrahim and Ba-yc-
brilkly purfued by the forces zid, above-mentioned, whom
of Tamerlan in the mountains he reprefents as the prime wa«
of Galatia, near Ancyra. His zir.
feet being fo fwelled with walk - (I) Prince Cantemir, in a
ing that he could no longer go, note, gives a large account of
Ba-yezid carried him on his the family of this Jbrahim
flioulderb for feveral days, till Khan, and the great privileges
he got into his father's domi- which they enjoy. Among
nions. He almofl: familhed which are thofe of making ufc
himfelf to fupply Mohammed, only of concubines inllead of
and went in the habit of a monk wives ; of being vifited twice a
through the towns and villages year by the foltan ; and of the
begging bread for him to eat. foltan riling a little from his
(H) Dukas makes two wa- feat when they enter.
means
0th man Empire. ^ ' 391
means he had fecured the throne to his ekleft fon, and the
lives of the younger ; while the emperor conceived great
hopes of keepine Amurat within bounds, by threatening
him with his hoftages, or making them his friends in cafe
they fucceeded to the Othman empire ; but the event
fhewed that both were miilaken in their conjectures '.
Mohammed lived forty-feven years, and reigned eight Rgivnaid
years ten months; a foltan famed for jiiftice and cle- chmaSer,
mency. He is extolled not only for redoring the Othman
empire from the low condition it was reduced to by the in-
vafion of Timur, and more deftrucSlive quarrel of his bro-
thers ; but alfo for leaving it enlarged to his fucceflbrs '".
SECT. VII.
^he Reign of Mordd IL
A /TOR AD was but eighteen years of age in 825, when Rejra 825,
his father died, and he afcended the throne. Soon A. D, 14.2a.
after his elevation, an obfcure perfon aflumed the name of .
Moftafa, fon of Ba-yezid. This man, who firil: appeared
about Saloniki, or Theffalonica, foon gained fo much cre-
dit, that he perfuaded not only the common people, but
the European foldiers, with many ofBcers, that lie was the
very perfon he pretended to be. After he had allured to
his intereft all Rumelia, and aflembled a con.n lerable army,
he, with the connivance of the Greek emperor, pafled into
Afia, in order to feize Prufa, the feat of the Othman em-
pire.
Morad fent the prime wazir Ba-yezid into Afia, with Another
chofen troops, to ftifle the flame in its birth ; but being Mofiaja
met by Moftafa, he was killed, and his army routed. The ^^^" »
foltan upon this difafter, repaired to Seyd Bekhar, a holy
man, who, in the opinion of the Turks, could obtain of
God whatever he prayed for ; and defired his mediation
for a bleffing on his arms. The faint having gained his
point by the intercefTion of Mohammed the prophet, girt
the foltan with a fword, and fent him forth with a " Go
on and profper, molt auguft emperor, for viftory attends
you." Morad, on this encouragement, led his armv againit
the counterfeit Moftafa ; who undauntedly waited his
coming near Ulubad, the bridge of which he ordered to
be broken down. The foltan encamped on the other fide
1 Dukas, cap. ai. m Cant, ubi fupra, p. 77.
C C 4 of
352r Hiftory of the
of the river, in expe£lation of the promlfed afliftance from
heaven, and perhaps to extinguifh by delay the firft heat
is put to of fedition. However that be, on the feventh day of this fuf-
4eath. penfion of hoiiilities the impoftor was feized with a violent
bleedingof the nofe, which held him three days. His foldiers,
confidering this accident as fent from God to blaft his de-
figns, deferted him in the night. This defection obliged
him to follow ; but not being able, by reafon of his great
weaknefs, caufed by lofs of blood, to fly faft enough, he
was overtaken, extremely ill, in the town of Kara Agaj,
by Morad j by whofe command he was inftantly be-
headed ".
The hiftory of Moftafa, and the occafion of his appear-
ance, may be better underftood, we conceive, from the
Greek than the Turkifh hiflorians ; who feem to have con-
cealed fome fa£l:s, and altered others, to ferve their par-
^he empe- tial views. According to Dukas, Mohammed being in-
ror dif- terred at Prufa, and Amurat proclaimed, tliefr next care
mtged, ^^g ^Q fecure peace in the Eaft, by a treaty with Kara-
man, and then fettle matters Vv'ith the emperor. But Ma-
nuel prevented them, by fending ambafladors to compli-
ment Morad, and demand his two brothers, of whom he
was left guardian by Mohammed's will. They had orders
alfo to let him know, that if he refufed, they had another
fuccefibr to eftablilli in his place, who would foon be maf-^
ter of Macedonia and Thrace, as well as of Afia and
the Eaft. The emperor comm.unicated this delign to Mof-
tafa himfelf.
fets up Ba-yezid anfwered, in the name of the young foltan,
Mcfiaja on that they were very defirous to preferve peace with the
certain emperor ; but could not confent to deliver the children, as
it was contrary both to reafon and the laws of their pro-
phet, to fufFer the fons of Mufuimans to be educated by
kaburs (K). The emperor, piqued at this anfwer, re-
folved to zOi purfuant to the conditions on which he had
received Moftafa : accordingly he fent Demetrius Lafka-
ris Leontarius with fix gallies to Lemnos, to bring up that
prince and Cineis, and then with the troops which were
in the gallies to make him governor of Thrace.
On this occafion Moftafa fwore never to acl contrary to
the emperor's will, to obey him as a father, and give his
n Cant p 78— Si.
[Yi) A corruptipp of g;iurs i that is, infidels i for fo they call
Chrllllans.
fon
Othmdn Empire » ^ 393
fon in pledge of his performance. He promifed likewife
to deliver Kallipolis in the Kherfonefus, the countries ad-
joining to the Euxine Sea as far as Walakhiaj_ and certain
places of TheiTaly as far as Erifliis and Mount Athos j
which, however, it was no eafy matter for him to give,
becaufe he was firft to take them from the enemy. The
conditions being agreed to, they failed for Kallipolis j which
city, upon a fpeech made by Moftafa, mixed with pro-
mifes and threats, furrendered. Then, leaving Cineis to
attack the citadel, he marched to Hexamilion, where he
was faluted fovereign by all the country.
When news of this event were brought to Prufa, the Moftafa
great men about Amurat advifed him to fend Ba-yezid, Meats and
whom they hated for his pride as well as good fortune, / '.^'''
againft Moftafa. The wazir having pofted to Adrianople,
raifed an army of thirty thoufand men ; and had not march-
ed far from the city, when fee was informed by his fcouts,
that Moftafa, who advanced at the head of very numerous
forces by the way of Kariopolis, a very populous city lately
built by the Turks, was near at hand. The armies being
in fight, Ba-yezid made a fpeech againft Moftafa •, telling
them, that he heard the grand feignor fay that he was not
the real fon of Iltrim Ba-yezid ; but an impoftor. Moftafa,
on the other hand, leaving the command of the army to Ci-
neis, one of the moft brave and able commanders of his time,
retired to an eminence, and from thence harangued the
enemy ; telling them, among other things, that it would
be eafy to make it appear he was the fon of Ilterim, and
was ready to decide the difpute with his nephew Amurat by
fingle combat. He afterwards exhorted them, with pro-
mifes of great rewards, to join his interefts.
This fpeech had fuch an efte61:, that the generals who
commanded the two wings of the enemy's army, went over
to him. Ba-yezid, finding things take fo ftrange a turn,
thought it his fafeft way to fubmit too; and, alighting
from his horfe, with his brother Kamzas, went and threw
himfelf at the feet of Moftafa. But Cineis, who owed
him a grudge, ordered him to be carried out of the camp,
and beheaded; faying at the time of execution, " Wicked
as you are, you caufe men to be deprived of thofe parts
which make them men ;" for he had formerly ordered
Adulas, Cineis's fon-in-law, to be caftrated : however he
fpared Kamzas on account of his youth, and made him
his flave, little thinking that he would prove his ruin.
Moftafa on this fuccefs marched to Adrianople, where he
was joyfully received ; and the garrifon of the fortrefs of
Kallipolis,
394 Hiflory of the
KalHpoIis, defpairing to defend themfelvcs, gave it irp hj
capitulation.
By Chu' Demetrius Leontarius, v/ho expected to be put imme-
fteid's ad- diately into pofleffion of the place, according to agree-
*V'ce breaks ment, was landing the arms and ammunition out of the
nviikth^^^ galley to carry them into the citadel, v/hen Cineis arrived
tffiperor, iinexpc£ledly ; and, feeing the Turks uneafy at fo fudden
an alteration, told Demetrius very roundly, that he was
not to imagine that they had fought and run fo many dan-
gers for his fake ; or expe<fi: that they -would give up the
citadels and towns : that he ought to be content with fome
prefents for his fervices, and be well fatisfied that they
iuffered him to return to Conflantinople ; confidering the
511 treatment they had received at Lemnos, and the out-
rages committed by the monks of a Pammakarifte mo-
r.aftery.
Demetrius, no kfs irritated than furprlfed at this dif-
courfe of Cineis, M^ho had no bufinefs, he faid, to take
upon him to talk in fuch a ftrain of matters which did
not belong to him., went immediately on board his gallies,
and waited for the anfwer of Moftafa. This latter foon
after came on board, and made an apology for not deliver-
ing up Kalhpolis ; alleging, that it was better to break
his oath than injure religion, by putting the pious and
faithful into the hands of the wicked and infidels ; or fub-
jeding a people, who ferve the Deity, under the domi-
nion of others, who are perfect Grangers to the God of
heaven and earth. He added, that, (liould he commit
fuch a horrid impiety, the Mufulmans would not fuffer
him to reign ever them.
Demetrius heard this difcourfe with impatience °. He
reproached the Othman family with breach of faith ; he
faid, Or Khan kept neither his treaties nor oaths: that
litrim Bayezid imitated his perfidy, and was puniflicd for
it, as well as Mufulman and Mufa his (Moitafa's) two
brothers : that none but his brother Mahammed had ob-
ferVed his treaties, and found an eafy death •, that he
could not long efcnpe divine vengeance, if he did not
alter his conduct. Then he put him in mind of his obli-
gations to the emperor; telling him, that he would have
been ftrangled, if Manuel had delivered him up to his
brother Mahomet : that the Romans had, for his fake,
borne the reproach of doing what was unjuft and crimi-
nal \ but that, however, they had afliiled him, and even
• Pukas, cap. 24.
raifed
Othmdn Empire* , 395
raifed him to the throne. Demetrius after this expoftu-
lation, fet fail for Conftantinople p.
The emperor Manuel, grieved as well as enraged at
this difappointment, at length fent to Morad ; offering to
re-eftabhfh his intereft, provided he would perform his
father's will, and give him his two young brothers in
hoilage. Mean while Moftafa, having put things in order
at Kallipolis, returned to Adrianople : where, finding in
his brother's palace ineflimable treafures, as well as beau-
tiful women, he gave himfelf up to pleafure j while
Amurat, who was not yet turned of twenty, committed
the fame kinds of excefTes at Prufa. However, he did ^
not fo wholly abandon himfelf to voluptuoufnefs as to
negle£l the means of recovering what was loft. He had
ftill a great number of able counfellors about him •, who,
being informed of Moftafa's indolence, and in what man-
ner he had ferved Leontarius, advifed him to fend Abra-
ham or Ibrahim, fon of Ali, a wife and virtuous man,
w^ho fucceeded Ba-yezid as prime wazir, ambaflador to
Conftantinople. Being admitted to audience, after men-
tioning the afliftance which he had given Mohammed againft
Mufa, he defired that the emperor would afl^brd Artiurat
the fame fuccour ; promifmg in recompence to deliver
whatever he fhould demand, excepting Kallipolis and his
two brothers : but, as the emperor would not agree to
thofe exceptions, the ambaffador llaid a long time at \^on-
ftantinople without doing any thing.
In the mean time Cineis, being informed of the prepa- Moflafa
rations made by Amurat, and that he had not only fent an g^o-ws in'
embaffy to the emperor, but had obtained a promife from '^'^^^*^^»
John Adorno, governor of new Focea, to allift him with
fhlps to tranfport his forces into Europe, he reproached
Moftafa with negle6ling his affairs ; advifed him to pre-
vent the enemy, and pafs the ftraits with numerous
forces. As foon as Amurat knew that Moftafa had
taken the field, he marched to Lopadion with a fmall
army. Befides other good oiHcers, he had with him
Hamza Beg, brother of Cineis, who had followed him
from his youth. As they arrived firft at the bridge,
they broke it down ; fo that Moftafa, not being able to
crofs the marfn, encamped on the fide of it. By this
expedient, Amurat gained time to Jiffemble his forces,
■while Moftafa could neither pafs the morafs, which was
P Dukas, cap. 43, & feq,
deep.
39^ ^ijtory of the
deep, nor march round it, on account of tKe length of
the way and interpofition of mountains.
J)e[erteily The two armies being fituated in fuch a rnanner as not
^^^^^^^l t^ be able to offend each other, fome of Amurat's officers
'smlrna " ^^^^ Hamza, that in cafe his brother Cineis could be pre-
vailed on to quit Moftafa's intereil, they would procure
the province of Adn for him and his defcendants, only
fwearing fealty to Araurat. Next night Hamza fent one
of his fervants, who, by paffmg over the marfli, got
to the tent of Cineis, and propoied an interview from
his brother. They met at the place appointed. Cineis
was not well pleafcd that they ihould offer him for his
friendlliip nothing but what was his own before : how-
ever, he told his brother, that fmce he had taken the
trouble to come to talk to him about the affair, he would
for the future ferve Amurat faithfully, and fulfil his pro-
mife next night ; adding that if it had not been for his
coming, he intended to have gone into Ionia, and per-
haps have com.e to blows with Atin's grandfon.
The night following, Cineis, having ordered candles to
be lighted up in his tent, departed fecretly with feventy
chofen men, and made fuch hafle, that he arrived at
Smyrna in the clofe of the next day ; where he was
joyfully received by the inhabitants. Moftafa, Atin's
grandfon, being informed of this defection, marched from
Ephefus, with defign to give him battle : but Cineis,
having affembled about two thoufand Turks, his ancient
friends, in that neighbourhood, met the enemy at Mau-
falion, and defeated them, killing Moftafa himfelf with
a blow of his iron mace. Hereupon his troops fubmitted,
and conduced the vi£l:or in triumph to Ephefus ; where
he ordered the corpfe of the dead prince to be buried
in the tower with thofe of his anceilors '^.
lHoflafa As foon as the flight of Cineis was known in the
/»#*• camp of the other Moftafa, the army, concluding he was
gone over X.o Amurat, began to retreat in great confufion j
while the enemy cried out to them, dur, dur katlan ;
that is, Jiop^ and do not fly : for as the bridge was broken,
they could not come near them. However, Amurat,
having repaired it the fame day with long beams of tim-
ber, got out and purfued the enemy, many of whom
joined him ; while Moftafa, pofting toLampfakus, croffed
over to Kallipolis with only four fervants, and there began
^Dukas, cap, 25.
to
Othmdn Empire. - '397
to make frefli levies. Mean while Amurat difpatched
a courier to Focea, to inform Adorno of what had hap-
hened, and order him to repair to the ilraits with all his
ihips j which being ready, were at Lampfakus as foon as
the Ibltan. This prince with his troops immediately went
on board, to the great chagrin of Muftafa : who, feeing
feven great fhips with a number of barks advancing to-
wards his coaft , fent to oirer Adorno fifty thoufand crowns
not to land Amurat in Europe ; an offer which he refufed,
Jn fpite of oppofition he put on fnore five hundred Franks
at Kallipolis ; who advancing a mile from the coall, gave
opportunity to Amurat to land with the reft of the troops;
which, falling on the enemy, foon routed them, with great
daughter, Moftafa retired to Adrianople j and, carrying
off the treafure, fled into Walakhia.
Amurat, having ftaid three days at Kallipolis, hafted Tah«,aKd
to Adrianople, at the head of a numerous army. There /^^"w-
ht feafted Adorno and his two thoufand Italians ; remitted
him the arrears due for alum (L) ; gave him the fort of
Perithcorion in the weft j and the commerce of Focea for
life. He likewife gave them all prefents, and, v/ith tlie
greateft teftimonies of gratitude, fent them home. At
the fame time, to purfue his blow, he fent feveral bold
young men after Moftafa ; who, coming up with him at ' ^
the Danube, brought him back to the city. Amurat or-
dered him to be hanged in the public market-place, to
confirm by the ignominy of his puniftiment the common
opinion of people, that he was no other than an impoftor
fet up by the emperor Manuel j although in reality he was
the fon of Ba-ye;zid '.
Let us now return to the Turkifti account. The Karamtm
rebellion being thus quaftied, the foltan refolved to chaf- Ogii cht^f-^
ife Karaman Ogli, named Mehemed Beg ; who, on the '{/^^»
Wazir Ba-yezid's defeat before mentioned, thinking the
Othman affairs in a defperate ftate, refolved to feize
part at leaft of Morad's dorninions. With this view
he attacked Andalia, in • hopes it would quickly fur-
render for want of reHef : but, being killed from the
walls by a cannon ball, the Karmanians choie another ^
general of the fame name, and haftily raifed the fiege. ^
r Dukas, cap. 27.
(L) This alum is got in a Focea ; of which Dukas gives
mountain to the eail of New a large account, cap. 25.,
i •
Gamze
398 . Hijlory of the
Gamze Beg, governor of the city, feeing the enemy
retiring in diforder, fallied out to purfue them. In taking
the enemy's camp he found Othman Beg, fovereign of
Tekke, who was come to Karaman's afliftance, juft dead
of an acute diftemper. He caufed his head to be cut off,
and then fubdued his territories.
l/ioftafa's Morad at his return to Adrianople intended to fettle
rsbellton, the (late of the empire •, but was prevented by the rebel-
lion of his younger brother Moftafa Chelebi : who, al-
lured by the deceitful counfels of the Greeks, rebelled in
Afia, feized Nicea, but weakly garrifoned ; and, being
fupplied with all neceflaries by his abettors, flrongly forti-
fied the place. Not daring to meet his brother in the
field, he fhut himfelf up in that city : but, being vigor-
oufly befieged by Morad, on the twenty-fifth day, it was
taken, with his brother j whom he ordered to be ftrangled
in his prefence '.
Conftanti' Dukas, fays that Morad, having afcended the throne in
mple be- the beginning of winter, made great preparations to befiege
Jiegtd, Conftantinople. Hereupon John Paleologus, to whom for a
long time Manuel, on account of his great age, had left the
management of affairs, fent ambafladors to try to make up
the breach between the two courts, laying the fault on
the late wazir Ba-yezid, who had refufed to put the two
young princes into the emperor's hands, purfuant to their
father's will : but Morad, without hearing or even feeing
thofe ambafladors, kept them till all things were ready
for the fiege, and then difmificd them •, faying, " Aflure
your mafler that I will be with him prefently." In fhort,
not many days after their difmifllon, he inveftcd Conftan-
tinople with two hundred thoufand men. The inhabitants
fufpe£ling that Korax the Theologian, had contrived fome
plot againft the city, to be revenged for not being fent with
the ambafladors to the Turkifli court, with which he
kept a clofe correfpondence ; the emperor Manuel, to re-
move thofe fufpicions, and appeafe the tumult, fent
Korax to Morad, to difpofc him to peace.
Korax fuf' Some fay he was able to obtain no terms in the empe-
feBed. ror's favour: others pretend that he promifed to deliver
up the city, on condition of having the government of it ;
and that one of his intimate friends heard the propofal.
In efle<I!>, after he had given an account of his embafly, the
perfon who had difcovered the treafon declared it, and
« Cant. Othman Hift. p. 8z, & feq.
pro-
Othmdn Empire. 399
pjroduced his wltneiTes. Hereupon the emperor com-
manded both parties to be confined till next day ; and, at
the requeft of the Kandiots, who were his guards, deli-
v-cred Korax to be examined by them, and condemned,
if culpable. After having forced a coafeiTion by torture, c^ueffy
they carried him before the palace gate, and plucked out butchtred*
his eyes, with unheard-of inhumanity. He died three
days aft'^r in prifon. His rich moveables were pillaged
by the populace, and his houfe was burned. Morad was
greatly concerned at the death of Korax. Being inform-
ed, that Mikhael Pilla, a native of Ephefus of noble
defcent, but of very profligate morals, was the only oc-
cafion of it, the Turks feized, and would have burned
him, if he had not faved his life by turning Moham-
medan.
Although Manuel was almoil reduced to death by ex- A.D. 14.14.
treme weaknefs, yet he ftudied how to embarraf: Araurat. — — —
Ihis foltan having put to death one of his two brothers, ^/^f«'
Eliaz, cup-bearer to his father, fled with the other named '^* ' **'
Moftafa, into Paphlagonia. The old emperor, being in-
formed of this incident, fent to Eliaz to bring the young
king to Prufa, and remitted him money to raife troops.
While Amurat amufed himfelf with preparing machines,
and making flight fldrmiihes before Conftantinople, a
courier brought him news, that Moftafa was acknowleged
fokan by the inhabitants of Prufa, and that Eliaz had
carried him to Nicea ; hereupon he broke up the fiege,
and returned to Adrianople. At which time Manu-
al, a very mild and wife prince, died, and left the em-
pire to his fon John ; who, though the lad of the Ro-
man emperors in order of time, was of the firil on ac-
count of his merit-
Amurat ftaid but three days at Adrianople, when, talc- Taken and
ing with him a fmali number of horfe and foot, he pafled flrangled,
over fecretly into Afia : approaching Nicea, he gave no- '
tice to his friends in that city, who, having raifed a tumult
•in his favour, opened the gates, and received him with
liis followers. There feizing his brother Moftafa, no
niore than fix years old, he had him ftrangled, and his
guards flain. He ordered the body, after he had viewed
it, to be carried to Prufa, there to be buried. Thus far
Dukas \
In 827, Morad married the daughter of Laz Ogli, the uftindhmr
Helena of the Servians, and of her time. Next year he Be^ de^
feated.
« Dukas, cap, a8.
marched
40 o Hijlory of the
maTched againft Isfandiar Beg, prince of Sinab, or Si-
nope ; who, fearing the Othman power, refolved to weaken
it. As he could not do it by force, he tried policy. To
amufe Morad he made peace with him, and gave his fon
Kafsim Beg in hoflage ; but as foon as the foltan had dif-
banded his army, he rufhed out with forces he had long
been preparing, and deftroyed the neighbouring cities of
Tarakli and Burni. Morad inftantly a&mbled his troops,
and paffing into Afia, w^as met at Bolova by the nobles of
Sinab ; who, difclaiming the ralhnefs of their prince, in-
treated him to depofe Isfandiar Beg, and make his hoftage
fon their governor. Isfandiar Beg, alarmed at this unex-
pe6led proceeding, repaired forthwith to the foltan, beg-
ged pardon, and offered his fecond fon in hoftage, with
his only daughter, of incomparable beauty, in marriage,
and thus the fhorm was appeafed.
Smyrna Morad, in his return from this expedition, took Ivmir, or
taken, Smyrna, and the adjacent countries of Monteftia, Aydin,
and Sarikhan, with all the territories belonging to Hamid
Ogli «. _
Chuneid To this time muft be referred Morad*s expedition againffe
Beg fum- Chuneid Beg, or Cineis, though not mentioned by Saadi
moned, Effendi. The foltan, fays Dukas, on his return to Adri-
anople, ftudied how to reduce Cineis ; to whom he dif-
patched an order, requiring him to fend his fon to him
immediately according to agreement, in cafe he defired to
preferve his friendfliip *, for that he was going to pafs the
Danube ; letting him know, if he difobeyed, that he
would treat him as it fhould pleafe God. Cineis only re-
turned this fhort anfwer, ** Do what pleafes yourfelf, the
fuccefs depends on God.''
He is de- When the foltan had aflembled all his forces, he placed
feated. at the head of them one Halil, or Khalil, a R.oman by
birth, who had efpoufed the (ifter of the wazir Ba-yezid,
flain by Cineis. This lafl, hearing that Halil was on his
march to Philadelphia, advanced to meet him as far
as Thiatyra. His youngeft fon, named Kurt, or the
ff'^'o/f, began the battle by attacking the main body of
the foltan's army ; w^hich opening to let them pafs, re-
ceived no damage. Halil, prefuming that the young un-
experienced commander would return the fame way, or*
dered his foldiers to hide their white turbans. Mean time
Cineis flood ready to attack the front of Halirs army, while
his fon Kurt charged them in the rear. As this laft re-
' Cant, ubi fupra, p. 87.
turned
Othmdn Empire » 40 r
turned with a flow pace, flaying all in his way, he heard
the found of trumpets, and faw upon a hill troops, with
enfigns refembling his father's, who, he concluded, had
routed the enemy : but finding, when he drew near, that
they were HaliFs troops, he fled, and, being hotly pur-
fued, was taken.
As foon as this circumftance was known to Cineis, he Flies to
retired with his army towards the mountains of Smyrna ; Karamdn*
and arrived at length at Hypfela, a fmall city on the
Ionian Sea, over againft Samos, where he had fhips and
military ftores ready to ferve him in cafe of need. Halil
fent Kurt to Morad, who imprifoned him and his uncle
Hamza ; and making Halil governor of the province he
had reduced, fent Kamza, his brother-in-law, the brother
of Ba-yezid, the late wazir, to command the army in his
room, with orders to purfue Cineis. Mean while Cineis
went to Amorium, with a view to perfuade Karaman,
fokan of Kogni, to join him againft Morad ; but as that
prince could not truft him fmce his defertion to Muful-
man, the other could not prevail. However, he obtained
of him a large fum of money and five hundred men.
With this fupply Cineis returned to Hypfela, and held Returns to
out bravely againft the enemy, who amounted to twenty- Hji>fela,
five thoufand men. Their general, Kamza, finding that
he made no progrefs againft a fort which ftood on a hill,
defired Moran to fend him fome Genoefe veflels to attack
the place by fea, toward which it lay open. Adorno be-
ing dead, Palavicini undertook the affair *, and appearing
before the place with three fhips, ftruck the inhabitants
with terror. Cineis finding that his foldiers began to mu-
tiny, fent to offer to furrender the place to Halil, who
commanded in Kamza's abfence, on condition that he
fhould fave his life, and either carry or fend him to Mo-
rad. Thefe terms being fworn to, Cineis and his brother Yields^ an4
Ba-yezid, waited on Halil, who received them civilly, isJJain»
and gave them a tent to repofe in. But Kamza, return-
ing to the camp in the evening, and being informed by
Halil of what had happened, fent four executioners, who
knocked Cineis on the head while he was afleep, and cut
off the head of his brother, not fpariiig a little child of
his. As foon as thofe heads arrived at Adrianople, Amu-
rat fent to inflicl: the fame punifhment on Kurt and his
uncle Hamza, which put an end to the family of Cineis^.
w Dukas, cap. 48.
Mod. Vol. IX. D d Let
4iO^ Hi/lory of the
Hejra 830. Let us now return to the Turkifii hlflorians. The Eaft
A.I>. 1426. being thus quieted, in 830 he turned his arms againft the
• ; Venetians, laid wafte the ifland of Zante, took the caftle
^\T^T*A ^'^'^^ Ghiogherjinhk, or Pigeon-houfe^ and returned to
a a€.ea, j^^drianople with great fpoils. The fame year, near Er-^
ghene, he ordered to be built, at a vaft expenee, a bridge
of ftone with feventy-two arches, and on the weft fide
a jami, bath, imaret, and khan.
A.D.i4.i7. In the year 831, Ghermian Ogli repaired to Morad^s
'" ' court, and voluntarily delivered to him the keys of all his
Ghermian ^owns. In return, the foltan loaded him with royal pre-
rett<Ur^^' fents, and made him perpetual fanjak of Ipfalam.
In order to fubdue what yet remained in Greece, under
the dominion of the emperor of Conftantinople, he af-
fembled both his Afiatic and European forces *, with which^
meeting no oppofition, he reduced Theffalonika, Athens,
and Kartineh. All Greece being thus fubdued, he, with
a great number of captives and cattle, returned to Adri-
anople ^,
Greece jub' Here again the Greek hiftorian muft be called in to
^sua, fupply the deficiency, if not to redify the miftakes of the
Turkifli. At the time that Amurat fent an army againft
Cineis, he difpatched ambafladors into Walakhia and Ser-
via, to notify his advancement, and concluded a peace
with the waywodes of thofe countries ; but conceived an
irrcconcileable hatred againft the emperor John. Not
being able to take Conftantinople, he turned his arms
againft the Morea, and the maritime places about the
mouth of the Strymon. He fent alfo a numerous army
to inveft Theffalonika, and ruin the neighbouring parts
about that city and Setunion. However, at length, the
emperor obtained a peace, by giving up to him the cities
and towns on the Euxine Sea ; likewife the forts, which
lie had not been able to take by force, as Mefembria,
Derkos, Setunion, and feme others on the Strymon ; be-
Emperor fides which he v.as to pay him three hundred thoufand
pays tri' afpers yearly.
bute. The foltan, being now freed from enemies, pafled
over to Prufa, and from thence marched to Ephefus,
where he received ambaffadors from all parts. The Ve-
netian's were the only Chriftian nation who fent none.
The reafon v^as this : during the time that the defpot
Andronicus, third fon of the emperor Manuel, com-
X Cant. p. 84»
manded
Othrndn Empire* 463
manded at Theflelonika, after Moftafa had left Lemnos,
and before Amurat befieged Conftantinople, ThefTalonika
was fo ftraightly befieged by the governors of the neigh-
bouring Turkifli provinces, that the inhabitants, reduced
to the laft extremity, without hopes of rehef, againft the
will of the defpot, fent and delivered up the city to the
Venetians. The Turks, enraged to fee the prey thus TheVene'
fnatched out of their hands, redoubled their attacks, and tians at^
the fcarcity beginning to be very great in the city, the '«<'^^<^«
Venetians, fearing that the inhabitants, prefled with
Lunger, would drive them out again, and receive the
Turks, fent off the principal citizens to different parts of
their dominions, under pretence that there were not pro-
vifions in the place fufhcient for their fubliilence, and
put feveral to death in their paffage, as guilty of treafon*
When Morad returned to Adrianople, the Venetians AD,i4?9,
fent to demand peace of him ; but he anfwered that he
would grant them none, unlefs they would abandon Thef- Sahniki
falonika. Soon after he difpatched Kamza, with the '^^'^'*'
troops of the Eaft, to befiege that city •, and followed in
perfon to be prefent at the general affault. The garrifon
being in no proportion to the compafs of the walls, and
the befiegers at leaft a hundred to one, they fcaled them
without much oppofition ; and opening the gates, let in
the whole army : who plundered the town, enllaved the
inhabitants, and committed all forts of violences. The
Venetians, apprehenfive of lofing Eubea alfo, on Amurat's
return to his capital, made it their buunefs to conclude a
peace with him.
At this time Dragul, a natural fon of Miltza, late way- Dragul
wod of Walakhia, entering that country with fome young fi^^^^ ^'*'
men, whom he picked up at Conftantinople, where he '^^^"^*
ferved the emperor as a foldier, in a little time grew very
formidable by the numbers which joined him ; and march-
ing againft Dam, the nephew of Miltza, the then way-
wod, defeated him, and, having cut off his head, ufurped
the ftate. Amurat, who had made peace with Dam on
his paying a fmall tribute, incenfed at this outrage, pro-
claimed a brother of the deceafed for his fucceffor, and
fent him into Walakhia with a confiderable force ; but
Dragul railing a great army, defeated and killed him alfq.
Thus far Dukas ^,
In 838, Karaman Ogli Ibrahim Beg rebelled in Afia; Hejra ^38.
where Morad, croffmg over with his forces, took Ak- AD. 14^4,
y Cap. *8, & feq, Krvanmn
D d 2 fhahri "^^*'''
Defeats
Mora
Krdii, and
the HungU"
rians.
404 Htjlory of the
fhahri and Koniyali, each at the firfl attack. Ibrahim
Beg, finding himfelf too weak to refill the imperial army,
by the interceilion of Menla Gamzeh, at that time the
moft celebrated faint among the Turks, was pardoned and
reftored to his former rtate ^.
The affairs of Afia being fettled, in 839, a new enemy
arofe in Europe. Mora Krali, brother of the Greek em-
peror (M), as he was befieging Ghiogherjinhk, before-
mentioned, Kafsim Bafha, beglerbeg of Rum-eli, with a
feleft band of men, unexpeftedly attacked and put him
to flight •, flaying or taking mofl of his foldiers, with the
fpoils of their camp.
Mean while fierce war broke out with the king of Hun-
gary, whofe forces prevailed oftener than the Turk-
ifh. At laft, Mikhal ali Beg, the brave Othman general,
unexpectedly invading the country, over-ran the richer
provinces, carried away the inhabitants, and returned
with great booty (N). The Hungarians, taking Ali Beg's
departure for a flight, rufhed again into the Turkifh do-
minions ; defl:roying all with fire and fword. Morad, to
check their boldnefs, after pafling the Danube near Wid-
din, and laying wafte the country, attempted to take Bel-
grade, the great bulwark of Hungary : but the brave de-
fence of the garrifon, and the approach of winter, forced
him to raife the fiege. However, in his way back, he
fubdued Sofia, with feme other towns of Bulgaria.
Morad v/as the more concerned at his difappointment
before Belgrade, as he judged it owing not fo much to the
valour of the befieged, as to the treachery of Valak Ogli j
who was nearly allied to him by blood, and (bared his
Subdues friendfhip. On examination, it appeared, that he had
Serbia. not only difcovered the Othman counfels to the king of
Hungary ; but alfo done his utmolt to prevent the reduc-
tion of Belgrade. The foltan, therefore, to punifh his
perfidy, firft commanded the eyes of his two holtage-fons
Attacks
Belgrade,
Cant. p. 85.
(M) He feems to have been
the defpot Demetrius ; who
about that time, according
to Phranza
greater part
He is called the emperor's bro-
ther from the aflinlty he had
with him. His jiffinity was
that of brother to John Pa-
, governea the
of the Morea.
leologus; who then reigned.
(N) The Chrillian annals
afcribe glorious victories in
thofe days to John Huniades,
general of the Hungarians ; but
mention nothing of Mikhal
Ogli's irruption into Hungary,
and the calamities which at-
tended it.
to
Othmdn Empire. 405
to be put out: then, marching with an army into Servia,
took the city of Semendra, on the Danube, feized the ter-
ritory of Zerin Ogli, and fubjedled the whole country to
his dominion. Valak Ogli, efcaping by flight, excited
the king of Hungary (O) againft the Turks, and broke ofF
a treaty of peace ; whereby he became the occafion of the
following flaughters, and that king's death ^. Let us now
hear what the Greek hiitorians record of this expedition.
Amurat being informed that Stephen, defpot of Servia, Peace *witk
the fon of Lazarus, and brother-in-law of Ba-yezid, was Servia^
dead, fent amhafladors to his fucceflbr George, fon of
Vulk (P), to demand Servia ; becaufe Stephen had left no
children, excepting a nephew of his lifter Mary. George,
to avoid a war, gave the Soltan his filler in marriage, with
part of Servia, and a prodigious fum of money; and in
return obtained leave to build a fort upon the Danube,
called Sendrew.
While Amurat wzs at Prufa on his expedition againft EftUrs
Karaman; Dragul, waywod of Walakhia, waited on him, Hungaryt
and offered to give him a paffage into Hungary as often as
he would ; alfo to condu6t him to the borders of Ger-
many and Ruff] a. The Soltan, pleafed with thofe tenders A.D. i4S9>
of fervice, careffed him extremely, made him fit at table — • — •
with him, and gave prefents not only to him but to all
his attendants. Towards the end of fpring, Amurat, hav- AD.14.36,
ing paffed the Danube at Nikopolis, was gladly received — *
by Dragul ; who, in four days, conducted him to the
frontiers of Hungary, which was all a defert, the inhabi-
tants having, on his approach, abandoned the towns and
villages. Being arrived near Zipene, they durft not at-
tempt it. The inhabitants, far from being afraid, fet
open their gates, and fallied out upon them. Having
therefore no profpe6t of fuccefs, they repaffed the Da-
nube, and Amurat returned to Adrianople.
Soon after this incurfion he fent to demand of George, Javad/s
defpot of Servia, the fort of Sendrew, which he had built. Ser<via*
The defpot remonftrating, that he had a right to It by
the faith of treaties, the foltan befieged It ; and. In three
months, took it on capitulation, Tjfie eldeft fon of the
b Cant. p. 85, & feqq.
(0)Ladi{laus, kingofHun- (P) Hence called by the
gary and Poland, chiefly known Turkifh writers Valak OgH, or
*by the flaughter at Varna, the fon of Valak; that is,
Cant. Yulk.
D d 3 defpot,
4^5 Hlflory of the
defpor, who was in the place, was afterwards, with his
b;-other, then at court, fent to Amaftris, and had their
eyes put out by the wazir's advice. The fame fummer he
took Novopride, and returned to Adrianople : there Dra-
gul, coming to pay his refpefts to the Soltan, was fent in
irons to the tower of KaUiopolis; under pretence, that he
(defigned to have betrayed him in Hungary. Some time
after, on his giving his two fons in hoftage, and taking a
new oath of iidehty, he was releafed.
Befiezes In the beginning of next fpring, Amurat, raifing a nu-
Bilgrade, merous army, marched to befiege Belgrade ; which
George, defpot of Servia, having been apprehenfive of,
had given to the Hungarians, who were more powerful
than he, and better aj^le to defend it. The foltan made
great efforts againll the city ; but after fix months fiege,
both by land and water, inftead of gaining any advantage,
loft abundance of his foldiers, not only by the plague, but
by engines caft In the form of tubes ; which, by means of
a duft, compofed of nitre, fulphur and charcoal, fliot out
balls of lead^ five or ten together, each as big as a wal-
nut(QJ.
A.D. 145?. The emperor John this year failed to Italy, with the
- patriarch Jofeph, and the other prelates, to aflift at the
Eftiperor 19 council of Florence, in order to unite the Greek and La-
' Jfr^* ' tin churches. The pope was at the whole expence of the
voyage, and the decree of the union was figned : but the
Greeks, at their return, recanted, although fopae of the
archbifhops would not put pen to paper till the money
promifed them was paid down. Reports having been
fpread in the emperor's abfence, that he was gone to ftir
up the Chriftlan princes againft the Turks, he, at his re-
turn, fent ambafiadors to Amurat, to affure him of the
contrary j ?ind that he intended inviolably to preferve the
peace.
Hungarian In the mean time the defpot, George, perceiving that
ifivafion, the enemy advanced daily into his dominions, applied for
fuccour to the queen of Hungary ; who governed during
the minority of her fon. The queen, confidering, that if
the Turks were fuffered to fubdue Servia, they would in-
vade her dominions next, ordered her general, John Hu-
nlades, to affift him. As the defpot had a great treafure,
they foon raifed twenty-five thoufand men, both horfe
( Q^) The reader muft fee, firft time the Greeks feem to
;hat guns and powder are here have heard of either.
IP be underllood. Thi^ is the
and
Othmdn Empire* 407
tmd foot •, and, croffing the Danube, advanced to Sofia ;
which they burned, with the towns and villages in the
neighbourhood, calling the fpoil into the river, Amu-
rat, who had not time to aflemble the troops of the Eaft,
advanced with thofe of the Weft. Both armies approach-
ed a town midway between Sofia and Philippopolis, call-
ed by the Bulgarians Iflatu, that is, Gold^ through very
difficult roads.
The Turks, perceiving the Hungarian camp, durft not Sir<viartt^
defcend into the plain. Hereupon the enemy, encourag- /<"''<'•
ed by their fear, afcended the mountain through clouds
of arrows ; but both parties, finding the fituation incom-
modious for fighting, retired to their former polls. Then
Amurat, refleSing that the Hungarians, who had never
before crofTed the Danube, had pafled it this time to aflilt
the defpot of Servia, reftored all the places he had taken
from him, and even the fort of Sendrew : he likewife fent
him his two fons, who had been deprived of their fight.
He moreover reftored Dragul's fons; and concluded a
peace with the queen of Hungary and king of Poiand, as
guardian of the young king : whereby it was ftipulated,
that the Hung;arians ftiould not crofs the Danube to make
war againft the T,nrks, nor the Turks pafs it to make war
-on the Hungarians *^.
In 845, Karaman Ogli Ibrahim Beg, the inveterate Kejra 845.
'enemy of the Othman empire, breaking the late faith con- A.D»i44a«
-firmed by oath, miferably laid wafte the Afian provinces, 7^
then deftitute of defence. Morad, informed of thefehof- ^]^^^
tilities., haitened over to Afia ; and, having aflembled an ^j^jg^ , '
army at Prufa, fent before fome chofen troops. Thefe
being met by Karaman's wife, the foltan's eldeft fifter.
Die bad them halt till flie fpoke to her brother ; who, by
her eloquence and tears, was prevailed on to be reconciled
with him : ftie engaging, that her huft)and fhould bind
himfelf by oath never to a£l in the leaft againft the Oth-
man empire, or fuffer his fubje6ts to enter it on any ac-
count.
The Othman dominions beicg now in profound peace, Hejra 847*
and a treaty concluded with the Hungarians, Morad, tired AD. 1443,
with reigning, in 847, voluntarily refigned the empire to -^ "
liis fon Mohammed, and retired to Magnefia, with delign to Moradre^
lead a .private life. Karaman Ogli, who but the year be- •^^**
i!ore, had obtained his pardon, thinking this a proper time
' |to .dcftroy the Othman empire, exhorted thg Iving of Huu-
^ Dukas, cap. 49—3'.,
D d 4 gary
4o8 Hiftory of the
gary In a letter, to take advantage of the prefent juii(3:ure,
afluring him, that if he attacked the Othman dominions,
both in Europe and Afia at the fame time, they fhould
quickly root out the v.hole Othman race, and reftore
tJie injured and difpoflelTed princes to their former hap-r
pinefs.
Kefumesthe The king of Hungary had lately, with his hand on the
Jcepur* Gofpel, fworn bv the immortal body of Chrift to obfervc
the conditions of the peace : but by the inlligation of the
pope, who abfolved him from his oath, he aflem.bled an
army ; and, being joined by the Chechi, or Bohemian,
Polifh, Latin, and Bulgarian, Valak Ogli's auxiliaries, he
invaded the Mufulman dominions. The Turks, frighted
at fuch great armies of warlike nations, with Mohammed's
confent, fent ambafladors to befeech Morad to refume the
reins of government, and defend the ftate in this critical
juncSiure : Morad, loth to leave the fweets of retirement,
refufedat firfl : but on a fecond application, at length
confentejd; and with the utmoft fpeed, paiTed through
"Battle of Kallipolis into Europe. The third day after his arrival
Varna* at Adrianople, affuming.the office of general, he put the
troops in motion, and, by long marches, proceeded to-
wards Varna, where the Hungarian king was encamped.
For greater expedition, he marched before with the horfe;
and in three days coming in fight of the enemy, fell upon
them, but not with the fuccefs he expected, for the right
wing being unable, for want of infantry, to ftand the fir ft
fhock, were put into diforder, and purfued above a mile.
The young king of Hungary, who now thought the vic-
tory his.ov^'n, in the heat of the battle challenged Morad
to lingle combat. The foltan, accidentally meeting him,
pierced his horfe with a javelin. Hereupon, the king fall-
ing to the ground, the janizaries inftantly cut off his
head ; and fliewing it to the enemy on the point of a
fpear, cried out, *^ Behold the head of your king." At
the fame time, the fcattered horfe rallying, renewed the
fight, and defeated the Chriftians at the firft charge (R).
(R) The Turks have a tra- " Let the gaurs, or infidels,
dltion, as well as the Chrifli- come on againll their God and
ans, that in this engagementj facrament ; and, if their be-
Morad ordered the writing, lief of thofe things be certain,
which he received from the let them, O juft God, declare
king of Hungary, in confirm- themfelves their own avengers,
ation of the peace, to be carri- and punifhers of their igno-
ed on the point of a fpear miny.'*
jhrough the ranks j ciylng out,
They
Othmdn Empire, 409
. They made indeed fome iland afterwards, but night Hejra8 5o.
coming oa, and wanting a leader, they were entirely A.D.1446,
routed. Excepting fome few who efcaped in the dark, all •
the refl: were llain, or taken prifoners, while Morad led ^hrifi'mns
back his army not much leflened, and loaden with fpoil : ^^1^' „
after which victory he retired again to a private life at
Magnefia. But, in 850, on account of a fedition of the
janizaries, who, for little or no caufe, robbed or murder-
ed all perfons they met, without diftinftion of age or fex,
lie was prevaled on a fecond time to mount the throne,
and fent Mohammed, who w^as too young to curb the
mutineers, to Magnefia.
The fedition being prefently appeafed, he next H^ira 851.
year turned his arms againft the rebellious Kailriot, If- ^'^' '4-+7«
kander Beg (S), drove him out of his kingdom, layed v f. i
wade all Greece and Arnaud ; and, in the Morea, took by skdnder
ilorm Balihadri and Akchehiflar. In requital for likand- heg^
er Be2,'3 breach of faith, and caufelefs defertion of the
Mohammedan religion, he converted all the churches of
Axnaud into j amis, or mofques, and ordered all the Epi-
rots to be circumcifed, or put to death \ whereby the
whole country, in a ihort time, changed its faith ''. To
this place may be referred what the Chriftian hiilorians re-
late concerning the war in the Morea, and the exploits of
Skander Beg. With regard to the war in the Morea, ac- The Morea
cording to Dukas, the reafon of Amurat's march to that ^^'vaded by
country was to recover the places taken by Conftantine, ^°^'^'*'
defpot of Lacedsemon, who, while he was at war with the
Hungarians, had reduced Thebes and the neighbouring
towns. On the defpot's refufing to furrender thofe
places, the foltan fat down before Hexamilion(T)j which
d Cant. Othm, Hift. p. 88—92.
(S) That is lord Alexander y wonders againft the Turks,
the name given George Ca- He died at Lifla, in the Vene-
llriot, yoqngeft fon of John, tian dominions, in January,
prince of Epirus, who being 1467, being fixty-three years
delivered in hoilage to Pvlorad, of age. Cant,
was by him bred in the Mo- ( I ) Hexamilion was a wall
hammedan religion, and much fix miles long, built acrofs the
beloved; but while the fokan ifthmus ofKorinth, to fecure
was engaged in the Hungarian the Morea agalnll invafions.
wars, he withdrew into Epirus, There was a town alfo of the
where according to the Chrifti- fame name juft within it.
an hiftorians, he performed Hexamilion, fignifies/^ miles.
Con ft an-
4IO
Siander
heg re-
fJti hrave
aSIims in
Aibania*
hUfiOry of the
Conftantine had repaired four years before, and behind
which he then was with fixty thoufand men. But he was
betrayed by the Albanians, whofe treafon however he ef-
capcd. Amurat, having ruined Hexamihon, and laid
wafte the country as far as Patrus and Klarenka, carried
off with him fixty thoufand prifoners ^
As to Skander Beg, although the Turkifh hiftorians
fcarce take notice of him, the Chrillian writers, who call
him prince of Epirus, have afcribed to him exploits equal
to thofe of the greateft heroes of antiquity : but as moft of
them have apparently exaggerated matters, we choofe to
follow Khalkondylas, who is more moderate in his account
of him. Morad, fays this author, the fpring after his
expedition into the Morea, marched againft Skander, or
Skander Beg, fon of Ivanes (U). This lord having been,
it is faid, abufed by the foltan, at whofe court he was edu-
cuted, without changing his religion, retired into Epirus,
where having married the princefs Donik, daughter of
Arianetes, he openly revolted. Amurat, in confequence
of this revolt, mar<:hed with all his forces, and ravaged the
country ; while Skander Beg, after fending his family and
the ufelefs people into the Venetian territories, retired
with the reft into the paffes of the mountains, towards the
fea coaft, watching the motions of the enemy, who at
•length befieged Sferigrade, and took it by affault. Getia,
which they attacked next, terrified by that example, fur-
rendered on compofition. The foltan then fat down be-
fore Kroja, the capital of Albania, and exceeding ftrong
as well by nature as by art. His artillery having made a
great breach in the wall, the janizaries gave continual af-
faults; but, being repulfed with confiderable flaughter,
and winter drawing on, Amurat, after a pretty long fiege,
wherein he loft a great number of men, thought proper to
leave the place for that time.
The foltan, having remained at reft a whole year at
Adrianople, took the field a fecond time, with a more nu-
merous army than before, againft Skander Beg; who was
a man of great courage, and indefatigable in giving Amu-
rat vexation. In his route to Kroya, he fent to the Vene-
tians to deliver up Skander Beg, who, with the Albanians,
retired to the mountains near that city, it order to affift it
c Dukas, cap. 32,
(U) That Is John, whom and call k'nj or prnce of Epi-
^her vvrltevs furname Kaftriot, lus.
Othmdn Empire. 411
on occafion. The cannon having made a large breach In
the wall, a detachment was fent to divert Skander Beg,
while the Turks gave an alTault. Hereupon a terrible
fight began In the mountains, where that prince performed
actions beyond belief, overthrowing all before him. On
the other hand, the janiiTaries were fo roughly handled at
the breach, that Amurat thought fit to change the fiege
into a blockade ; but at the fame time, news arriving from •
George, defpot of Servia, that John Huniades was ready
to pals the Danube with a numerous army, he immediately
withdrew, in order to go and meet the Hungarians ^
In the mean time, the emperor John Paleologus, being A.D.1448.
afflI6led with the gout, the lofs of his confort, and the '
troubles which dl{lra£led the church lince his voyage to ^^^^^!^
Italy, fell into a diforder which carried him off in a few •''' " ^"'
days. He was the laft emperor of the Romans. Notice
was immediately given of his death to Conftantlne (X) ;
who, prefently after his arrival at Conftantinople, fent
ambalTadors to Amurat j and all differences which fubfiil-
ed between the two courts were adjufled 2. Khalkondy-
las adds, that his brother Demetrius aimed to fupplant
him, and would have afcended the throne, had he not
been hindered by his mother, and the great men, of whom
Kantakuzenus and Notaras (Y) were the chief. The ar-
rival of prince Thomas, the youngeft of the brothers, was
alfo a check upon him ; fo that as foon as Conflantine en-
tered the city, all was pacified. Demetrius and Thomas
had the Morea divided between them **.
The Hungarians, to revenge the death of their late king, Uungari"
in conjundion with the prince of Moldavia (lately revolt- ^^^ ^"a^^**
ed) and others, having entered the Othman dominions, ^J^ ^^^^-^^
Morad marched in hafte to Sofia ; and from thence ad- nions*
vanced againfl the enemy ; but before the armies came in
fight, the Beigler, in their way to join him, met the Wa^
lachians feparated from the reft, and eafily routed them.
The foltan, leading on his forces to KofTova (Z), imme-
diately began the battle j but not with the fuccefs he ex-
f Khalk. ubi fupra, cap. 5&7. g Dukas, cap. 33,
^ Khalk. ubi fupra, lib. vii. cap. 11.
(X) Surnamed Drakofes, the vidonous, and flaiii. The fe-
brother of John. cond battle is defcribed in the
(Y) He was grand duke. Walachian annals to be fo
(Z) A place near Nigro- fierce and bloody as to exceed
monte, famous for another all before, or arc likely to be
battle, in which Morad I. was after it» Cant.
pe6led,
412 Hifipry of the
pe£le(1, the enemy's armour being proof againfl: the fword.
Morad perceiying this circumftance, ordered his troops to
ftrike at their heads with pole-axes and clubs. The Chrif-
tians furrounded, and unable to red ft the fury of the Turks,
retreated Howly under the fhelter of their carriages j and va-
liantly fought in that manner, with various fortune, till fun-
fet. At laft the king, perceiving his men difcouraged, allemr
bled the braveft of his horfe-, and, exhorting the reft to
renew the fight, made a motion as if he intended to fall
on the enemy's rear. But more folicitous for his own
than his people's fafety, inftead of attacking the Muful-
mans, he betook hirafelf to flight j leaving the foldlers,
** • • * now defpairing of fuccefs, to ffiift for themfelves. The
Turks purfued them with eagernefs, killed great numbers,
and took two thouland prifoners. All the German, Bo-
hemian, and Polifli generals, fell in the battle j except the
king himfelf ^
€he\r force. According to Khaljcohdylas, the. Hungarian forces con-
fifted of forty thoufand toot, feven thoufand horfe, and
about two .thoqfand war-chariots filled with mufketeers ;
but thefe -being judged by George, defpot of the Triballi-
ans, or Se^-vians, not fu^cient ,to cope ^yith the Tiirks^
who, by the troops which joined them in their march,
were become one hundred and fifty thoufand ftrong, he
thought it fafeft to fit ftillj which clilappointment greatly
incenfed Huni.ades ''. },.',,.: .:
battle of Next morning the battle began, 'and coritinued by Ikir*
Kofo'va. miOies the whole day, with confiderable lofson both fides.
In the night, the Hungarians, by the advice of Ihaut, fon
of Sauz (A), attacked t^e quarters of the foltan, with their
armed chariots, fo .unex,pe£ledly, and with fuch fury, that
the janiflaries were for a while amazed ; but recovering
• themfelves, they played their cannon on the Hungarians,
which did ^reat execution. At day-break, fearing to be
furrpunded oy the Turkifh wlng§, thefe laft retreated in
*good'br(Jer to their camp. At the fame time, Huniades
advanced with his forces againft the Afiatics ; a circum-
'ftance which Karatz, who commanded the Europeans,
perceiving, fent Thurakan to fall on their rear, while lie
attacked them in flank, with great flaughter. It was on
this occafion, that the Walachians, apprehending the like
•treatment, if tlhey did not provide for their fafety in time,
i Gam. Qthwj.Hift. p. 95. ^ Khalk. lib. vii. cap. 7.
(A) Sau7. was fon of Amurat I. and had his eyes putout.
went
Othmdn Hiftory. 413
wfent over to the Turks. This day likewlfe was confumed
like the former, in light combatSj without coming to a ge-
neral battle.
Huniades having fled with the beft of his forces, un- Huniades
known even to the reft, whom he had deferted, the taken by the
Turks, at break of day, fell upon the chariots, which f^^^^jjf
made a defperate refiftance ; but were at length all feized,
after the men who defended them had been deftroyed. Ac-
cording to the account taken by the prince of the Triballi-
ans, feventeen thoufand Chriftians and four thoufand Turks
fell in the feverai fkirmiflies which were fought ; for they did
not come to a general battle. Huniades, apprehenfive of
being taken in his retreat through the countries of his
enemies, firft left~ his troops with only a few followers,
and then quitted them alfo ; judging it fafeft to travel
alone ; but George, the defpot of Servia, having ordered
all the paiTes to be ftopped, in order to feize him, he was,
after two days fafting, obliged to beg relief of fome pea- - -
fants. Thefe knowing him by his drcfs and language, he
was arrefted and imprifoned ; but afterwards releafed, on
marrying his daughter to the defpot's fon.
Morad, at his return to Adrianople, married his fon A.D. 1451.
Mohammed to the daughter of Solyman Beg, prince of El- '
biftan. Dukas ^ calls him Turkatir, prince of the Turk- Mohammed
mans, who dwelt beyond Capadocia ; and fays Morad '^^^^''^' •
made this choice, becaufe as his territories bordered on
the Perfian Turks and Karaman, his fon, who governed at
Amafia, might be prefently alTifted in cafe of need, either
againft Karaman, or Kara Yufef. The marriage was ce-
lebrated with great folemnity from September to Decem-
ber J after which he fent Mohammed, with his wife, to
the government of Afia Minor and Lydia. But in Feb- Mardddies^
ruary following, he received advice of his father's death,
from H^lil and other wazlrs ; who intreated him to haften
to Adrianople. Morad going to divert himfelf in an ifland
in the river near Adrianople, was feized with a great hea-
vinefs in his head j and, being carried back to his palace,
died after three days illnefs, on the 2d of February j leav-
ing immenfe treafures to his fucceflbr "".
He was a juft and valiant prince, of a great foul, pa- His cha^
'tient of labour, merciful, charitable, religious, learned, ^^^^^»
and a great encourager of arts and fciences. A good em-
peror, and a great general. No man obtained more or
greater vi£torie6 than he. Belgrade alone withftood his
^ Khalk. ubi fupra, cap. 9, & feq. m Dukas, cap. 33.
arms.
414 Hijlory of the
arms. His firft care, on fubduing any country, was to
build jami, mofques, imarets, madrefeh, and khans. He
gave a thoufand filury every year to the evladi reful Allah
(B); and fent two thoufand five hundred to the monks at
Mecca, Medina, and Kuds Sharif ", or Jerufalem.
Mttd/ons, Mohammed, the eldeft of his five fons, was his fucceflbr;
the other four, Alaho'ddin, Haffan, Or Khan, and Ah-
med, died of diftempers in his life-time.
SECT. VIII.
V^he Reign of Mohammed II, furnamed Fatih (C), tQ
the taking of Conftantinople,
Mohammed ^/l^^"^ ^^ being dead, Mahommed II. now in the
//, **•"*■ twenty-firft year of his age, was crowned a fecond
time, three days after his father's deceafe °. On his ar-
rival near Adrianople, he was met by all the perfons of
any diflin£l:ion a mile from that city : there difmounting,
they walked on foot 5 the foltan and his attendants march-
ing in the middle. When they had advanced half-way
they flopped, clofing their lips to preferve the greater fi-
lence ; they then fet up a loud cry mixed with tears. On
this, Mohammed and his train alighted ; and, after the ex-
ample of the reft, filled the air with groans and fighs.
The grandees faluted him by kiffing his hand, then mount-
ed on horfeback ; and, having condudled him to the gate
of his palace, retired to their houfes.
Strangles ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^ Mahommed, after he afcended the
Ms brother, throne, was to fend Halim, head of the janizaries, and
fon of Eurenefis, to ftrangle his brother, an infant but
eight months old ; whom his father had by the daughter
^ Cant. p. 94, 95. " Ibid. p. 95.
(B) Or awladl reful Allah, tinguifhed by the green tur-
thatis, the fons of the prophet of ban.
God, Thefe are properly call- (C) Fatih, in Arabic, fig-
cd amirs, or lords ; denoting nifies the Opener^ or Vanq7iilh'
their dt fcent from Fatima, a ^r ; a title given him on ac-
flller of Mohammed. They count of his taking Conflantj-
were formerly deftined, like nople. The Chrillian hiftori-
the Levites, 10 the vvorlliip of ans call him Mohammed the
God. They are now difperfed Great, and the firfl: emperor of
through the empire, and dlf- the Turks.
of
Othmdn Empire, 4 1 5
of Splntlar Isfandiar, prince of Sinope. Next day he or-
dered Halim to be put to death, and obliged that lady to
marry Ifliak, her father's Have, to whom fhe had an aver-
(ionP.
After thefe fteps, at the inftance of George, defpot of pg^ce
Servia, he renewed the peace with him, and fent him w/zA the
back his daughter, who had been married to Amurat 5 Chriftians^
afligning her lands on the frontiers of that country for her
maintenance. Conftantine, and the reft who held the
iirft rank at Conftantinople, fent alfo to renew the peace
with him ; which was done in the moft folemn manner.
He alfo granted, at their requeft, a penfion of three hun-
dred thoufand afpers yearly for Or Khan's fubfiftence, in
the neceflity the empire then laboured under*'.
Mohammed, having made peace alfo with the other Defeats^
Chriftian powers, turned his arms againft Karam^n; who, ^^''f^^^^
on the news of Amurat's death, entered the Otnman do- ^
minions, and took three forts, with a great extent of land,
which Amurat had deprived him of. Mohammed march-
ed to Kotiayon, and thence into Phrygia Salutaris, by the
Turks called Karafaris, which is contiguous to the terri-
tories of Karaman; who, on the firil news of his ap-
proach, fent to beg peace, offering to furrender the places
which he had lately recovered. Mohammed's defign was
not to have returned till he had entirely fubdued that
prince to his obedience ; but the imprudent conduct of the
Romans made him fpare Karaman for the prefent, in or-
der to fubdue them "■.
Although the two princes, between whom the Morea Jfairs of
was divided, had taken a folemn oath never to violate the the Morea,
agreement ; yet Thomas foon after took up arms to drive
Demetrius out of his poffeflions. Demetrius hereupon
retired to Afan, his wife's brother ; by whofe means he
obtained fuccours from Amurat, and compelled Thomas
to fubmit the matters in difpute to the emperor's arbitra-
tion. But that prince refufing to deliver to his brother
the territories which fell to his fhare, Mohammed ordered
Thurakan, his governor in the Morea, to affift Demetrius,
and demolifti the wall that fhut up that country. Here- Ifthmean
upon Thomas gave him the city of Kalamata, in lieu of i^iall
the territory of the Skortians, which he detained. raxed.
Next year, he ordered cannon to be founded ; and, I^ejra 856.
having aflembled an army out of all his provinces, be- ^^^^21^^'
P Dukas, cap. 3';. q Idem. ibid. Ktiaik. lib. vii. cap« J""!!'
%U r Cant p, 96.
fieged
41 6 Hiftroy of the
fieged Conftantlnople. The Greek emperor, terrified at
the danger, begged peace on whatever conditions the fol-
tan would impofe. Mohammed declared to the ambaffa-
dors, that he pitied the emperor^s cafe; and could not in
confcience deny peace to the humble : but, left he fhould
be blamed by his people for being at fo great expence and
trouble to alfemble forces, without any advantage to the
Othman affairs, he defired Caefar to give him a fpot of
land on the European fide of the Bogaz, or Bofphorus,
no bigger than an ox-hide ; and that he! would immediate-
ly raife the fiege. The Greeks readily confenting, Mo-
hammed fent away his army.
Builds Rum Then having picched on a rocky place before the am-
eli Hijjar, baffadors, he ordered an ox -hide to be cut into fmali
thongs ; and with them inclofing a piece of ground, five
hundred paces in circumference, feized it for his ufe.
Here he built, in forty days, a caftle fortified with five
high towers, reprefenting the letters of his name •, and
immediately after ran up another to anfwer it on the Afia-
tic fide. Thefe caftles he provided with artillery and a
good garrifon : then ordered the governors not to let the
veffels pafs, which daily fupplied Conftantlnople with pro-
vifions from the Euxine fea. After this meafure he return-
ed, under the appearance of peace, to Adrianople j and,
three days after his entrance, laid the foundations of that
ftately palace, called Jehan Numa.
Hejra 857. In the third year of his reign, and of the Hejra 857,
A.D.1453. Mohammed difcovered the defigns which he had- hitherto
"77 concealed : for, raifing as great an army as he was able,
cSanti" ^^ went and befieged Conftantinople '.
nople. As the Turkifli account of the deftru«£l:ion of the Ro-
man empire is very defeiftive, and we ought not to omit
any material circumftance relating to that grand event, we
fhall fupply it from the Greek contemporary writers. Thefc
mention but one fiege of Conftantinople undertaken by
Mohammed ; the caufes of which feem to be impartially
fet forth by Dukas, as follows.
Knman ar- They, who had the principal fliare in the government
ti/ices treat' at Conftantinople, were fo indifcrete as to fend ambafla-
ed ivith ^QYs to notify to Mohammed, that Conftantine had been
jtor/i. proclaimed emperor, although he had not been crowned. -
They complained alfo, that Or Khan's penfion was not
duly paid, and urged to have it doubled : alleging, that
the prfnce wanted money for prefents to the great lords,
* Cant. p. 97, & feq.
who
Olhmdn Empire, 415^
XVho paid their court to him; and that the emperor was
not able to fupply him. In cafe this demand was not
granted, they defired that they might be allowed to fet
him at liberty. ,
Hali Baflia, to whom this difcourfe was direded,
though of a mild temper, and a friend to the Romans,
becaufe they often made him prefents ; yet, on hearing
the ambafladors talk at this rate, he made anfwer : " I
have been.fo long acquainted, you filly Romans, with
your artifices and tricks, that you ought to give them
over. — Tlie treaty, which we made with you, is fcarce
dry, and yet you have followed us into Anatolia ; think-
ing to frighten us with chimeras of your own framing. —
If you can do any thing againft us, do it. Proclaim Or
Khan prince of Thrace, and make the Hungarians pafs
the Danube in your favour. — But take it for granted after
all, that, inftead of recovering the countries which you
have loft, you will lofe thofe which you now poflefs. — "
Hali having reported thefe matters to Mohammed, he Mohammed
flew into a great palfion. " If I ftay in Anatolia, faid incenjed.
he, the Romans will ftir up all the Chriilian nations a-
gainll: me, fuccour Karaman, and fubdue the Weft. On
this confideration, he treated the ambafladors of that prince
with mildnefs, and granted them peace. With regard to
the emperor's ambafladors, diflembling his refentment, he
promifed to give them a favourable anfwer at his return to
Adrianople : but, as foon as he arrived there, he ordered
Or Khan's penfion to be ftopped •, and, towards winter, A.D. 1452.
gave notice through his dominions for a thoufand work- • — •
men to be ready in fpring, with the proper inftruments ^^^^^^ ^
and materials, to build a fort near the Sacred Mouth (D), y^J^-/
above Conftantinople. This proje£i: filled the Chriftians
every where with grief, as it convinced them, that the
downfal of the city was at hand. A prodigious number
of workmen being aflembled at the time appointed, the
emperor fent ambafl^adors to Adrianople, nOt to demand
an augmentation, nor even a continuation of the pen-
fion, but to intreat Mohammed not to build the fort; and
on that condition to pay tribute, if he required it. He re-
monftrated, that he had indeed, at the intreaty of his
grandfather Mohammed, granted him liberty to build a.
fort on the Afiatic ftiore, becaufe it had been of a long
time in pofl^eflTion of his anceftors ; but that the defign of
(D) The mouth of the Bofphorus In the Propontis, at Con-
ftantinople.
Mod. Vol. IX. E e building
4i8
Hijlory of the
tilities.
building this new fort oppofite to the other, could be no
other than to deprive Conflantinople of its trade, and fup-
ply of provifions from the Euxine fea.
Mohammed, after having aflced the ambalTadors what
right they had to hinder him from building a fort on his
own ground, fhewed, from the emperor's joining conti-
nually with the enemies of the Othmans, ^'■^^i^g l^is fa-
ther's reign, how little reafon he had to expert a favour
from him ; and concluded, threatening, that whoever
came to trouble him again upon the fame fubjeft fliould
Begins hof be flayed alive. This anfwer threw the inhabitants of
Conflantinople into the ut mo ft fear and anguifh. Soon
after the Turks began to build the fort below Soft union,
of old called Pheneum, in a triangular form, and called
it Bafelka ; that is, Head-chopper. The emperor, finding
he could 11 Oi hinder the execution of this defign, fent
guards to prevent the Turks from making incurfions, and
pillaging the lands in tinre of harveft : but Mohammed,
inftead of granting his requeft, gave leave to thofe who
carried materials to the fort, to feed their cattle on the
Roman paftures. The people of the tower of Epibata
going to. hinder fome Turks from deftroying their corn,
a quarrel enfued, wherein feveral on both fides were kill-
ed. Mohammed, being informed of this felrmifh, ordered
a party to go and put the inhabitants of Epibata to the
fword: the Turks accordingly fell upon them as they
were cutting down their corn, and flew forty.
The emperor, being informed of this outrage, ordered
the city gates to be fhut, and the Turks who were in it to
be arrefted : but three days after fet them at liberty ; and
at the fame time fent ambafTadors to tell the foltan, that
fmce he was refolved on war, and neither his own oaths
nor the emperor's fubmilTions could prevent it, he might
take his courfe : that if God, in whom he trufted, intend-
ed to deliver the city into his hands, no human power
could hinder it : he advifed him, however, to refle£l on
their treaties and his own oaths ; adding, that, for his
part, he would fhut up the city, and defend the inhabi -
tants to the utmoft of his power. Mohammed, far from
feeking excufes to juftify his conduft, declared war againfl
Conftantine.
Mean while, the fort being finifhed in four months,
the wails were furnifhed with cannon, fome carrying fis
hundred pounders ; and a garrifon of four hundred men,
placed under the command of Feruz Aga, who had orders
to demand tribute of all vefTeU which pafled^ and fire on fuch
as
luar^
Prodigious
cannon*
Othmdn Empire, i^X^
as refufed to pay it. Mohammed, who had overlooked
the work, having given thefe orders, returned with all his
court to Adrianople.
"While he was building the fort, a famous engineer
went and offered him his fervice He came from Hun-
gary to Conftantinoplc ; but the penfion afligned him by
the emperor's council was fo fmall and fo ill paid, that he
could not fiiblifl: on it. This circumllance obliged him to
retire to the foltan, who gave him confiderable revenues.
This perfon call him a very large cannon, which carried
a huge flone ball a full mile ; and whofe found was heard
above ten : the ball, when it fell, made a hole in the
ground fix feet deep.
The emperor, fore feeing what would happen, had,, fix EmperprU
months before, reinforced the garrifon, drawn many p^epara^
people of the country into the city, and laid up great ftore '^'"^^*
of corn. He had likewife fent to Rome to demand fuc-
cours of the pope, and complete the union of the two
churches : but as it was eafy to fee that neither the em-
peror nor the clergy were fincere, fo the pope afforded
them no affiflance ; and their diffimulation ferved him
afterwards with an excufe for abandoning them to the
mercy of the Turks.
In fpring, Mohammed ordered his great cannon to be Thefieg^
carried from Adrianople to Conllantinople, .by Karafia* ^^i^"''*
Beg, who had before reduced feveral places on the Euxine
Sea, as Mefembra, Akheloum, and Bifon. Mean while,
the diftradlions in the chur.ch continued (E), as if the city
had not been threatened with a fiege, which began the
fixtk of April ; the Turkifti army encamping from the
Wood-gate to the Golden-gate, towards the fouth, and
the church of St. Kofma. They alfo covered the whole
fpace, which had been planted with vines '.
Khalkondylas obferves more particularly, that the fol- '^^^^ ^^'0'*4
tan's camp extended from one fea to the other : that the A^'^S^^*
forces of Afia were on the right hand towards the Gol-
den-gate; thofe of Europe on the weft, ft retching to the
Wood- gate; and that in the middle, between both, was
t Dukas, cap. 34. 37. ;
(E) The clergy were divid- party, declared, that he would
ed; fomeforthe union, others rather fee the turban of Maho-
againft it : at the head of whom met in the church than the
was Gennadius, amonk. The pope's cap. He was certainly
great duke, who was of his in the right.
JE e 2 Moham-
5|.20
Juftiniani
made gene-
ral.
port and
/hips.
Gallies
^ranvn
ever land*
Hijlory of the
Mohammed himfelf, with his janizaries and other troops
about him, while his wazir Zogan, was pofted above Ga-
lata. The walls toward the port were not very good : but
fronting the land there was a double wall, with double ram-
parts. The firft was low and weak, but defended by a
great fofle, two hundred feet wide, lined on both fides
with ftone : the inner wall was very high, and admirably
well built ".
The emperor did all in his power for the defence of
Conftantinople. All the Venetian fhips which came from
the Tanais and Trebizond, were detained. The Genoefe,
though they had promifedthefoltimnotto affiftthe Romans,
yet, privately fent a large veflel, with five hundred
men, to reinforce the garrifon, John Jufliniani, fur-
named the Long, came from Genoa with two fhips and
feveral brave young men. As John had excellent Ikill in
drawing up an army, and giving battle, the emperor made
him chief commander, and affigned for his poft that part of
tlie walls M^hich was neareft the palace 5 becaufe the enemy
had planted moil of the engines on that fide. He pro-
mifed likewife to give him the fovereignty of the ille of
Lemnos, in cafe he obliged the Turks to raife the fiege.
Such magnificent rewards encouraged the Latins to behave
like heroes. Mohammed caufed new levies to b? made,
and brought fuch prodigious numbers together, that many
reckoned they amounted to four hundred thoufand. At
the fame time his gallies, fliips, and barks, to the number
of three hundred, came to anchor near the city.
The port was fecured with a chain, ftretched acrofs
from the Fair Gate to Galata, which kept the veiTels of
the city in fafety. Befides which there was a fleet of five
fhips, one belonging to the emperor, the other four be-
longing to the Genoefe, which brought provifions from
the Morea and Khio. As they returned in March, Mo-
hammed ordered his fleet either to take or hinder them from
entering the port of Keras ; but the fhips forced their way,
by the help of the wind, and were let in by lowering the
chain. The foltan finding that there were in the harbour
eight great fhips, twenty fmall ones, with feveral gallies,
belonging to the emperor and the Venetians, befides a
great number of barks, defpaired of making himfelf mafter
of them j but at the fame time formed a mofl bold and
noble, defign. He ordered a road to be made through the
buflies and fhrubs behind Galata, from the place facing
» Khal. lib. viii. cap.
the
Oihmdn Empire, 4*1
the eaft, under Diplacionion, to tlie otlier fide of tlic
gulf of Keras, oppofite St. Kofma's church, arid eighty
gallies to be drawn over the hilly ground, from the Sacred
Mouth into that harbour. Every galley had a pilot at her
prow, and another at her poop, with the rudder in hand;
one moved the fails, while a fourth beat the drum, and
fang a failor's fong : and thus the whole fleet pafled along,
as if it had been carried by a itream of water j failing, as
it were, over the land ^.
With regard to this furprifing exploit, prince Cantemir
only obferves, that befides other engines before unheard-
of, the Turks made ufe of one worthy of admiration ; for
by it, from the north fide, fome vefTels were brought over
hills and declivities into the inner haven ; a contrivance
which occafioned the taking of the city, by introducing
the fea-forces by the gate Fenar, looking to the lower ha-
ven *, To return to Dukas.
In the mean time they brought the monftrous cannon,
before mentioned, oppofite to Saint Roman Gate. The
gunner had two balls of ftone, one very large, the other
imaller; and fliot the latter firft, to fee if he took
right aim.
Khalkondylas relates, that the noife of thofe great cannon
was frightful; and the Ihockfo great, that the ground trembled
for more than two leagues round ; that although the balls
reached the fecond wall, as being much higher than the
firft, yet the damage they did gave no difcouragement to
the Greeks; becaufc thofe unwieldy cannon, not being
eafily managed, could not be fired above feven or eight
times a day, and only once towards morning, as a warn-
ing-piece to begin the military operations. Befides the
great cannon, there were many others of a lefier fize
planted along the counterfcarp, with which they battered
the parapet of the rampart. The Greeks alfo had artillery,
carrying balls from fixty to eighty pound ; one of which was
planted againft the largeft of the Turkifii guns ; but when
difcharged, they fo (hook the wall and rampart, that they
did more' harm than good ; befides, the largeft piece
burft after a few firings.
Although the damage done by the Turkifii cannon was Mines ani
at firft fo fmall, yet the Greeks, through inexperience, <'»f'»'''*-
and want of fufficient numbers to attend at many places *"*"'*
at the fame time, were not able to repair the breaches ;
while the janizaries, under cover of their gabions and
«' Dukn?, cap. 38. ?■ Cant, p 9S.
E c 3 mantlets,
mmu,.
42-2 Hijhry of the
mantlets, gained the ditch ; then raifing a breaft-wall with
loop-holes along the counterfcarp, fired fo inceflantly
againft the battlement, that none durft appear. •
The foltan ordered mines alfo to be carried under the
ditch and walls, and a great way into the city j building
wooden towers, where foldiers were polled to fecure the
workmen, at the places where they broke ground ; but
the Greeks, by countermining, rendered thofe works of no
elFefl. The Turks had yet another tower higher than
the former; on the top of which there were a great
number of ladders and portable bridges, to throw upon
the ramparts,
^'•noefe The Genoefe of Galata fliewed on this occafion much
^Indnefu afFeclion for the Romans. In the day they fupplied the
Turks withprovifions and ammunition for their cannon, and
at night ftole into the city, and fought next day againft
them. The day following they w^ent to the camp ; and
thofe who were in, the camp returned to Conftantinople.
The V.ejietians ventured their lives no lefs freely for the
Romans. John Juftiniani omitted nothing to defend the
place \ '?.T\^ the grand duke, followed by five hundred
men, Vv^ent round the city every day, to fee that a good
guard was keptj and to encourage the foldiers.
By the continual battering of the cannon, the tower
near St. Roman Gate, and the walls on both fides, were
demolilhed in fuch a manner, that the befiegers and the
befieged could fee each other.
"Peace re- The emperor, defpairing of being able to defend the
jV<J7#i. city, after fo large a breach had been m^ade in the ftrongeft
part of the wall, fent to propofe paying whatever tribute
the foltan fhould think fit, if he would but retire. Mo-
hammed anfwered, that there was no pofiibility of re-
tiring now; that he muit either take the city, or the city
him : but at the fame time he offered, if the emperor
would furrender it, to give him the Morea, and his bro-
ther other provinces ; threatening, in cafe he took it by
alTault, to put him, and all the great men to death ; make
flaves of the inhabitants, and give their effects to his fol-
diers. Conftantine thought it better to wait the event
than fubmit to fuch conditions.
Juftiniani, at this jun<flure, refolved to burn the Turkifh
fleet, and prepared a galley for that purpofe ; on which
he put aboard the moft valiant Italians, with the neceflary
engines and artificial fire ; but the Genoefe of Galata hav-
ing difcovered his defign, gave notice to the Turks ; who
being upon their guard when the Latins approached at
■ .:. ' . midr
Othmdn Empire* 423
midniglit, let fly their cannon, which funk the galley,
with a hundred and fifty brave foldiers on board ; and
thus ended all their hopes.
Mohammed caufed a wooden bridge to be made from WuoJen
the fhore of Galata to Cinegion, conufting of a thoufand briage*
calks, tied two and two together, and bound on each fide
with ropes, which afforded breadth enough for five men
to march abreaft. There were, at each end of the cafks,
pieces of wood, on which the floor was nailed.
When all -things were made ready for ftorming the city, Moham-
Mohammed fent to offer the emperor, and the great men, ^^^' ~P^^'
liberty to go out with their effects ; promifing that the ^^^^ *
people (hould fuffer no injury •, but acquainted him at the
fame time, that if he rejecfled thofe conditions, he and
his officers mufl expe£l to be put to the fword, and the
inhabitants made captives. The emperor anfwered, by
the advice of his council, that he would gladly live in Vfnteror's
peace with him : that Mohammed's anceftors honoured anjhver*
his anceflors as their fathers, and Conflantinople as their
country, where they found an afylum in all their dif-
graces ; and that none of them who had dared to attack it
enjoyed a long life. He advifed the foltan therefore to be
content with what he had already unjuflly taken from his
family, and the impofition of as heavy a tribute as he
fhould think fit ; but with regard to furrendering the city,
he faid, it neither depended on him nor any of the inha-
bitants ; the common refolution being to lay down their
lives in its defence.
The foltan defpairing of taking the place by compofi- Turkl/h
tion, caufed the day for the attack to be publifhed through ilfumifia-
his camp; declaring, that he would content himfelf with
the walls and the houfes, and give up to the foldiers the
people and their effefts, u^hich declaration was received
with joyful fhouts. In the evening he ordered fires to be
made throughout the camp. This was a fpeclacle quite
nev/, to fee an infinite number of Hj^hts fpread over the
land and over the fea,/ in the fliips and houfes, in Gon-
ftantinople and Galata ; fo that the blaze rivalled the
light of day. The furface of the water glittered as if
it had been covered with looking- glafies. i'he Romans
feeing all the camp on fire, rati, td the walls, from whence,
they heard thofe exulting ihouts, which flruck them al-
moft dead with fear,as being the forerunners of a general
affault. ' ' •
^The emperor John laboured extremely hard all the
night, to fill up the breaches with fafcines, and have a
E e 4 ditch
tions.
424 ' Hijlory of the
ditch dug within. Mohammed begun the -attack on Sun-
day, the 27th of May, which v/as the feaft of All Saints.
lie gave the Pvomans no reft all the night. At nine o'clock,
dividing his army into two parts, he drew it up from the
palace to the Golden Gate. He ranged his eighty barka
from the Wood-gate to the fquare, and difpofed the other,
veflels, which were at Diplacionion, in a circle from the
Fair-gate, beyond the fortrefs of St. Demetrius, and the
little gate near Our Lady's monadery, named Hodegetria,
beyond the port as far as Vlanka. Thefe fhips contained
fcaling-Iadders and other engines.
Order of it. At fun-fet the trumpet founded, and, the foltan fought
on horfeback at the breach, fvirrounded by ten thoufand
flaves, fupported by more than a hundred thoufand ca-
valry on each fide and. behind him. In the low ground
from the port to the Golden Gate, there were upwards of
a hundred thoufand infantry, and above fifty thoufand
from the place where the foltan was to the high ground
where the palace flood : there was befides an infinite:
number of foldiers in the yeflcls and on the wooden bridge.
hejieged. The befieged were diflributed round the walls in this man-
ho%u pcfied. ner ; the emperor and Jufliniani were polled at the breach
with three thoufand Latins (F) j the great-duke was in
the palace with five hundred men. There was likewife
npwards of five hundred men, armed with fpears and
darts to defend the walls and the fortifications towards the
lea, from, tht^ "Golden to the Fair-gate. They watched all
the night. The Turks brought an infinite number of
ladders to fix to the walls j while the foltan, with a rod
v^ of iron in his hand, drove them forward, fometlmes ufing
carefies, fomefimes threats. .••
Gallant The befieged behjivcd valiantly. The emperor and Juf-«
tiejtnce, tiniani fought at the head of their men \ but, in the even-
ing, that incomparable captain received a ball in the back
of his hand, which pierced hisgauntlet. Not able to bear the
pain, he defired the emperor to maintain his ground, while,
he retired on board 2^ fhip to have liis wound dreffed (G).
Mean,
(F) The brave Juftiniani was ed in the hand, retired to get
pcHted at the breach to receive it dreffed; and the Genoefe
the enemy with three hundred imagining that he would aban-
Italians, and behind him was don them, quitted their poft
the emperor, with his troops hkewife. The emperor feeing
drawn up to fupport the other, this ran up, and aiked Jnlti-
K-halk. lib. viii. cap. 6. niani whither he was going ;
(G) Juftipiani being wound- hisanfwer was, *' There, where
God
Othmdn Empire.
425
Mean while the Turks, covered with their bucklers, ap-
proached the walls, and ufed all their efforts to apply the
ladders j but were hindered by the prodigious quantity of
ftones which the befieged threw down upon them.
While the emperor thus guarded the breach, the Turks TTie Turh
perceiving a door of the palace open, by which the Ro- enter by a
mans made their fallies with fecurity, it being under- /^^^^ /**""'•
ground, fifty of Mohammed's flaves ruflied in ; and
mounting the walls, cut thofe who defended them in
pieces ; after which the enemy found no difficulty to get
up. As foon as thofe who fought under the emperor, and
knew nothing of this misfortune, as being at a diftance
from that place, perceived themfelves to be Ihot at from
the top of the walls by the enemy, they fled in confufion
into the city (H) : but the gate of Kartias being very nar-
row, many were crufhed to death. The Turks feeing the
Romans fly, purfued them with a great (hout, and flew
all who came in their way (I). It was then that the em-
peror, in defpair, {landing in the breach, with his fworcf
iand buckler in hand, uttered thefe words : " Is there no
Chriflian left alive, to ftrike ofl^ my head ?" He had fcarce
Uone fpeaking, u'hen he received a ftroke in the face from
a, Turk, and then, another from a fecond, which killed
(jdd hath opened a pafliige to
the Turks." ** Let us go on
then, my brave men (cried the
emperor to thofe about him),
and fulfil our duty againfl thofe
accurfed and detellable dogs."
But the Turks rufliing forward
in troops, Kantakuzenus was
forthwith flain, and the em-
peror wounded in the Ihoulder.
Khalk. lib. viii. cap. 6.
(H) To explain this, it muft
be underftood, that the defence
hitherto was made at the breach
in the outer wall ; and their re-
treat was through the inner
wall into the city.
(I) The Turks, who entered
In troops, wounded the em-
peror in the (boulder, and drove
him, with his people, to the
fecond iiiclofure, where the refl
of the Greeks defended them-
feJves from the walls with
darts, arrows, and great flones,
againft the enemy, who ap-
proached it : but when they
faw that the Genoefe, who
were their chief hope, had
fled, and that the emperor
was forced to give way, having
an infinite number of Turks at
his back, they loll all heart,
and fled In fuch diforder to-
wards the Roman gate, that
they flopped it up. By their
thus deferting the fecond wall,
in which there were feveral
breaches, the janizaries enter-
ed the city. Thofe at the other
end of the wall fled towards the
port, in fuch crowds, to get on
board the Venetian and Ge-
noefe fliips, that moil of them
were drowned ; and the vefTels^
fo over-loaded with them, that
ferae of them funk. Khalk,
lib. viii. cap, 6,
him,
425 Wftory of the ' '
him, although neither of them Icnew. that he was the em-
peror.
The Turks entering the city an hour after midnight,
with the lofs of no more than three men, although be-
tween the palace and the gate of Kartias they flew tw(|)
thoufand Romans, fome flying, fome defending them-
felves. They imagined there were iifty thoufand men in
arms i for had they known there were no more than eight
thoufand, they would not have flain one man; not for
pity, but out of covetoufnefs j for they would have fold
them like (heep (K).
Strange Some Romans, at day-break, ran to their houfes, to
credulity, take care of their wives and children ; but although ihey
were covered with blood, thofe whom tbty met in the
ftreets they, pafed through would not believe that the
Turks , had broken in., ,At length the news being con-
iixmed by other wounded people, who arrived thick one
after -another, th^- woj^en and religious fled in crouds to
the great church, called San^ba Sophia, in the belief that
a ridiculous predi^lion which pafl^ed . among them, con-
cerning the deJftru£tion of the Turks, 'would now be a^c-
Compliihed. .. * > '^
TaJfepre- The prediction was, that the Turks fhduld one day
di^htiy Ttake Conftantinople, and flay the people as far as the
*aa!iv^" pillar of Conftantine ;i but that then an angel, defcendlng
fro^mheaven with a.fword, fhould give that weapon, with
the empire, to a poor man, whom he fhould find on the
pillar, faying to him, ^^ Take this fword, and revenge
the people of the Lord :" that the Turks would, at the
fame inftant, take to their heels ; and' the Romans pur-
fue them, flaying them continually ; nor ever ceafe till
they had driven them out of the Weft, and alfo the Eaft,
as far as Monadenere, .^ place oh the borders of Perfia.
This monllrous abfurdity was believed on no better ground
than that they had formerly heard certain deceivers relate
as much, . ,
The Greeks, who had gotten into the great church,
X't-ere flattering themfelves with an aflurance of being out
of all danger, when the Turks arriving, broke open the
doors, and finding the place filled from top to bottom
v/ith people, carried them ^way tied together. A great
multitude, who were fo filly as to go in pro'ceffion to the
very tomb of St. Theodofius the martyr, on the day of his
(K) Khalkondylason this oc- would fetat liberty the murder-
calionobfervcs, that the Turks ers of their fathers for money.'
feflival,
manjt
Othmdn Empire. 427
feflival, as if every thing was quiet, fell into the hands of The city
the Turks, and were led captive like the reft. The fleet taken,
which was in the port hindered the Turks from applying
ladders, and mount the wall on that fide, till fuch time as
they who had entered the city in the morning had arrived
and driven the Romans off the wall. This incident the
enemy in the fhips perceiving, they foon mounted ; and
the gates being now all broken open, the Turks rulhed iii
impetuoufly on all fides.
When the great duke faw them approach the Royal Gate
which he guarded, he retired towards his palace with a
fmall number of men ; but in the way to the tower, where
his wife and children were, he was feized, and a guard
put upon him and them y.
Juftiniani, after his wound had been drefled, was re- Gallata
turning to the port (L), when news being brought him of furrenders,
the emperor's death, and the lofs of the city, he put to fea
again. The fhores were crowded with people of all forts,
who beat their breafts, and called to the failors to take
them in ; but if they had been ever fo willing, it was not
in their power j nor could they poffibly have efcaped
themfelves, if the enemy's fleet had not been bufy in plun-
dering. The Genoefe at Galata ran with their wives and
children to their {hips, leaving all their efFe61:s behind
them ; but the wazir Zogan running to the fhore, and pro-
mifing them fecurity for their perfons and goods, the
greater part returned with their magiftrate, and prefented
the foltan with the keys of their city. Only five great vef-
fels fet fail, the reft were abandoned by the failors. The
Venetian (M) gallies and merchant fhips retired in the fame
manner. *.
Alt
y Dukas, cap. 39. ^ Ibid. Khalk. lib. viii. cap. 7.
(L) Some ChriiVian authors poflibly the others may have
reprefent him in this affair as injured him, from an invidious
leaving his poll through cow- report.
ardice, and fay, that he died (M) Thofe in the Turkifli
f<5on afterwards of grief. Nor fleet quitting their fliips, to
is whatKhalkondylas fpeaksof ranfack the town, after the reft
his behaviour in a former note had plundered it, the Venetian
much in his favour. Poifibly, gallies being defliture of men,
Dukas, being employed by the whom the Greeks had taken
prince of Lelbos, u Genoefe, out to defend their walls, ran
might have added this circum- a-drift along the Hellefpont ;
ilance, to fave his credit j or fo that three days after they
run
428 Hiftory of the
The foil an ^^^ that we Have hitherto related happened between the
gHtits, firft and eighth hours of the day j at wliich time the fol-
tan entered the city with his wazirs and great officers,
furrounded by a greai:,body ot janizaries. When he came
to the great church, he was aflonifhed to fee the condi-
tion it was in. Perceiving a Turk pulling up the marble
pavement, put o.f zeal for religion, as he alleged, Mo-
liammed drew his fword, ^nd wounded him, faying, " Be
content with the pliinder, the buildings belong to me."
Then ordering one of the priefts to afcend the pulpit, he
heard prayers. On leaving the church, he fent for the
grand duke, and. bid him fee the confequence of not de-
livering up the city. The grand duke replied, that it nei-
ther was in his nor the emperor's power to furrender it ;
much Jefs ought they to have done it, when the foltan's
own officers advifed them- to hold out j for that they faid
they could not take the city. This anfwer increafed the
jealoufy which Mohammed had conceived againft Hali
Baflia. The foltan afked him next, if the emperor had
efcaged aboard the fxeet. The grand duke faid, he knew
not what was become of him, being pofted at a different
gate. At the fame time two young foldiers ftepping for-
ward, one faid he had killed the emperor j the other, that
he had given him the firft wound. They were immedi-
ately fent to find his body, and brijig the head ; and it
was acknowlegedby the grand-duke. It was afterwards nail-
£mperor*s ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^°P ^^ '^^^^ -pillar of the Augufleon, where it re-
Jt£ad ex- mained till evening; then, the fKin being flayed off, it was
f^^pJ. fluffed vy'ith ^raw, and carried as a trophy to the priiices
of the Arabsi Perfians, and Turks of different nations.
Or Khan "Other's fay that the duke hid himfelf with Or Khan^i
Jlain, and other perfons of condition, in a tower, which they
at length furrendered at difcretion, without being known.
Being fent on- board a fl>ip,^ a Roman, to obtain his li-
bertv, difcovered them both to the pilot ; who imme-
diately cut off, the head of Or Khan, and carried it with
the grand duke to Mohammed, Vv'ho comforted him
ran. nihorc at tbe ifland *of nefus, frighted like the refl,-
Egina, and firft brought the retired to their ffiips, to fave
news of the lofs cf Conftanti- themfelves, which gave the Al-
nople ; which fpread fuch a banians, who inhabited the
general terror both by fea and country, opportunity to throw
land, that the Greeks left their off their obedience. Khalk.
dwellings, and fled with precipi- lib. viii. cap. 6,
tation, The lords of Pelopon-
in
Othnicfn Empire* 425)
in K13 diftrefs. The foltan having fent to feek for KIs
wife and children in the camp, and iii the fleet, gave to each
one thoufand afpers ; and in fending them to their
own houfe, told the duke, that he would give him the
government of the city, and confer on him greater ho-
nours than he poflefled under the emperor. Having gotten GranJ
from him the names of the principal officers and other ^"^^f*"
perfons of the court, he fent to fearch for them, and paid -^^
one thoufand afpers for each *.
This is the account which the Greek hiflorlans havd
left us concerning the taking of Conftantinople 5 let us
now fee what the Turks themfelves fay.
The Chrillians being at length reduced to a few defen- Ctty fur^
ders, and tired w^th continual fatigues ; feeing alfo their *"^'*^^'"^"»
walls full of breaches, their batteries deftroyed, in a word,
the city blocked up both by fea and land, without any
hopes of relief, the emperor fent ambafladors to furren-
der it to Mohammed, on his own terms. The foltan
receiving them civilly, promifed to grant the inhabitants
their lives and effects, with liberty to remove whither they
pleafed ; and then difmifled them : but having fomething
farther to fay, ordered them to be called back. The cen-
tinels from the ramparts fufpe6ling, from the hafte which
the meiTengers made after the ambaffadors, that the Turks
had a defign to enter with them, and feize the city, fired
on them, to hinder their nearer approach. The Othmans Yet enured
furprifed, and perceiving" fome of their companions hf M^^'
grievoufly wounded, founded a retreat, and reported what
had happened to the foltan ; who imagining that the
Greeks had repented of their agreement, and fired on
his people out of revenge, ordered his army to attack
and deftroy that perfidious enemy. On the other hand,
the Greek emperor being told by the centinels, that the
Turks had attempted to take the city by fraud, and were
now approaching the walls, commanded his fubjefts to
exert themfelves in its defence. Upon this a fierce and
bloody conflict enfued : but whilfl the Greeks valiantly
fought on the land fide, thofe who defended the walls
towards the haven, being beaten from their pods, gave
the Turkifli forces an opportunity of entering the town on
that fide.
In this aflault the emperor Conftantine himfelf fell, Emperor's
bravely afting the part fometimes of a general, fometimes ^'"^''^^7*
of a foldier; and in the greateft dangers animating his
men with his prefencc. His Iieadlefs body was found lying
a Dukas cap. 401!
on
430 Hijiory of the
on that of an enfign-bearer ; from whence the place takes its
prefent name of Sanjak dar Yokufhi 5 that is, a/cent s^ or
hills with enjtgns on them.
When thefe circumftances were known to thofe who
bravely repelled the attacks of the Turkifh land-forces,
they forthwith ere£led a white flag on the walls ; and
cried aloud from the ramparts, " Why do you without the
fear of God, for no fault of our's, break your promife ?
The agreement for furrender of the city is now made, and
ordered by both emperors to be ratified. Defift therefore
from fighting, nor aflault thofe who have engaged to be
your fubjefts/* Mohammed hearing thofe words, and ig-
norant perhaps of what had pafled in the haven, com-
manded the battle to ceafe, promifing to ftand to the former
conditions ; and fo received that part of the city by fur-
render.
Waif the Next day the foltan, entering by the gate called Top
city fielded Kapu, made the following declaration to the Greeks : " I
on terms, promifed you in our agreement, that if you chofe to
continue here, all the churches and monafteries fliould
remain untouched, and your religion futfer no damage :
but fince I have acquired half the city by force of arms,
anxi half by furrender, I think it jufl, and accordingly
order, that the religious houfe's and churches, which
fland in the part I have conquered, be converted into
jami, and the reft left entirely to the Chriftians : pur-
fuant to this determination all the churches from Ak
Seray to San^la Sophia, were converted into jami ;
but from Suli Monaftir to Ederne Kapu, all remain-
ed to the Greeks. After this difpofition, the land and
fea forces being afiembled in the market-place, called
Ak Seray, Mohammed marched in a triumphal procelTion
to San£^a Sophia. Then having ordered the ezan to be
fung (N), he went to the imperial palace ; and as he en-
t'jred, being addifted to poetry, is reported to have fpoken
an extemporary diftich, in the Perfian language, the fenfe
of which is this ; " The fpider has woven her web in the
imperial palace j the owl has fung her watch fong on the
towers of Afrafiab j" in allufion to the downfal of the
Grecian emperors. - Conftantinople was taken on the 20th
of Jcmazio'l Ewel, in the year 857, and fifty-firft
(N) A hymn, containing call the people to prayers. It
the Mohammedan profefiion of is ufed alfo after vidories, like
faith, fung by the muezin, or the TeDeum among Chriflians,
chanter, on the hi^hefl tower, Cant*
or minareh, of the Jami, to
day
Othmdn Empire-,
43t
to death*
day of the fiege ; the negligence or treachery of the
wazir prevented its being taken fooner^~ We will now
return to Dukas.
The day after the city w^as taken, the foltan entered it Grand
a fecond time, and went to fee the grand-duke, who came ^«^^» and
out to meen him. As the duchefs was lick, he went to °[ J/^.f^
her bed-fide, and calling her mother, bid her good-mor-
row, and not affli£l herfelf ; promifing to give her more
than fhe had loft. After this vifit, he walked about the
city, which was quite empty, both men and beafts having
been carried off.
On the 28th of May he again went over a great part
of the city, and made a feaft about the palace. When
he had drank pretty hard, he ordered his chief eunuch to
demand of the grand duke the youngeft of his fons,
who was fourteen years of age, and extremely handfome.
The duke fufpefting thefoltan's defign, turned pale, and
told the eunuch he might take him, but refufed to deliver
him (O). Hereupon Mohammed, in a rage, fent the
eunuch for the young lord, and an executioner with him,
to bring the duke and his two other fons, and cut their
heads off at the palace gate (P). He likewife commanded
all
b Cant. Othm. Hift. p. 100, & feqq.
(O) Khalkondylas relates,
that all the Greeks who ef-
caped the flaughter were re-
leafed from (lavery, and fet-
tled at Pera, efpecially the
perfons of any quality : for
Notaras (or the grand-duke)
liimfelf, with his wife and chil-
dren, were bought by Moham-
med, and permitted to retire
whither they pleafed : but re-
lying on the fuccours expe(5ted
from Italy, he would needs re-
main at Conftantinople, where
feveral others gathered, who
could not forbear entering into
certain intrigues ; which being
prefently difcovered, fo incenf-
ed the foltan, that he put them
all to death. Our author adds,
that it was thouaht this misfor-
tune was oceaiioned by the im-
prudent exprelfions Notaras
ufed when the foltan fent for
his youngeft fon ; faying, that
fmce he had fettbem at liberty,
he had no right to their per-
fons ; and that the demand was
unjufl, diflioneft, and even out-
rageous. Others fay, that all
this was brought about by a
lady, the daughter of a fo-
reigner, who hated the Greeks;
and with whom the foltan was
greatly enamoured. Khalk. lib.
viii, cap. 7.
(P) Both Dukas and Khal-
kondylas fay the great-duke be-
haved at his death with great
magninimity. The latter re-
lates, that he deiired his fons
might be executed firfl, left
otherwlfe they {hould be re-
ferved for an unnatural ufe ;
and that although the young
creatures lamen-ted,. and In-
treated
432 tlljlory of the
ail the great men and officers to be executed, whom he
had redeemed from the foldiers ; choofing out of their
wives and children, for his own ufe, thofe who were moft
handfome, and beft fhaped.
flunder ^^ ^^ third day after the taking of Conftantlnople the
ivafied^ ^ips fet fail for their refpe£live countries, ioaden with
rich plunder and captives. The camp was no lefs crouded
than the fhips. There one might fee-perfons of all de-
grees and conditions ; bifliops in their pontifical habits,
nuns in their religious drefs, bound like flaves. The holy
veflment^ were ufed as houfings for horfes and dogs. Some
were feen ferving up fruit in the facred veflels, and others
drinking out of chalices. They carried away in carts art
infinite number of books, which they difperfed over both
the Weil and Eaft. They fold the moft valuable authors
for a trifle, threw away an incredible number of the gof-
pels, after ilripping off the ornaments ; and burnt all the
images to drefs their viftuals '^.
Galaia dif- ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^7? ^^"^^ foltan entered Galata, and order-
mantledy ^d an account to be taken of the number of inhabitants.
and Con- He likewifc commanded the houfes of thofe who fled to
fantinopje Genoa to be opened, and an inventory to be made of the
repaire goods in each ; giving notice, that if the proprietors re-
turned in three months, they fhould be reftored, if not,
that they fhould be confifcated. At the fame time he or-
dered the walls of Galata to be demolifiied, and thofe of
Conftantinople to be repaired. He alfo chofe five thou-
fend families out of his dominions; and enjoined them,
under pain of death, to fettle by the end of September in
that city; the government of which he gave to one of his
flaves, named Solyman. He left all the churches defert,
except the great one, or Sanfta Sophia, which he con-
verted into a mofque. On the i8th of June, he return-
ed in triumph to Adrianople, with a prodigious quantity
of plunder, and an innumerable multitude of flaves. He
found, at his arrival, a great number of Chriflian princes,
who came from far and near to felicitate him on his fuc-
cefs. He afcended his throne, and while they all flood
c Dukas, cap, 40, and 42.
treated him rather to give them lib. viii. cap. 7. We cannot
up, and all his eftefts which he but think that obflinacy crimi-
had laved in Italy, than fufFer nal which occafioned the death
them to be flain before his eyes, of fo many people.
he would net confcnt. Khalk.
before
Othmdn Empire, ifSJf
before him, impofed on each fuch tribute and homage as
ke thought fit.
To the Conqueft of the Morta.
NEXT fpring, refolving to join Servia to his dorhini- A.D. 1454.
t>ns, he fent to demand the furrender of that country from ■ ' ' '*
George the Defpot; under pretence that the right of in- ^^^'viatH'
heritance being in Stephen, fon of Lazarus, it therefore **"* * '
belonged to him. His envoy not returning at the time
appointed, he took th'e field with a formidable force, and
having pafled Philipopolis, came to Sophia. There,
leaving his army and wazirs, he entered Servia, at the
head of tu^cnty thoufand foot, but foUnd none to oppofe
him, the defpot, vi^ith the chief men of his court, having
retired to Hungary, promifing the people to return with
a powerful army. When he came to the fort of Sendrew,
he did his utmoft to take it, as it would give him an eafy
paflage over the Danube into Hungary : however, he failed
in the attempt. He had no better fuccefs againit another
fort, but took a city lower down, On compolition, yet car-
ried the inhabitants into flavery ''.
This city feems to be the fame which Khalkondylas calls j^ade tri*
Novo Barda, fituated on the Turkifh borders, near the butarj»
river Morana, which falls into the Danube. Mohammed
befieged and battered it fo furioufly with mortars, a kind
of artillery faid to be invented by him, that the inhabi-
tants, feeing almoft all their houfes beaten down, furren-
dered at difcretion. Part of them he carried into flavery,
the reft he left in the city to follow their trades, they be-
ing fkilful in working metals, which the neighbouring
mines afforded. George, the prince, or defpot, of the
Triballians, on the approach of the Turks, had fled to
Huniades for fuccourj and at the fame time bought a
peace of the foltan, paying forty thoufand ducats annual
tribute, but foon after died. As Eleazer, his youngeft
fon, was to fucceed him, Stephen and George, whofe
eyes had been put out, found means to feize the treafure,
and then fled to the Turkifh court, where they were af-
figned lands for their fupport *. The foltan, at his return
to Adrianople, repeopled the towns and villages about
Conftantinople with four thoufand men and women, who
fell to his fhare -, and going to that city, ordered a palace
^ Dukas, cap. 42. « Khalk. lib, viii. cap. i».
Mod. Vol. IX. F f t^
i|34 Htjlory of the
to be built (R) eight fladia in compafs; the top of which
was covered with lead taken from the monafteries.
A.D.1455. In the courfe of the fecond year after the conqueft of
Conftantinople, the knights of Rhodes repaired thither
Afleet fent ^j^.j^ prefents, foHciting a treaty of amity and commerce \
'Rholei and ^^^ becanfe, in obedience to the pope's order, they would
Kh'm not pay tribute, Mohammed declared war againft them ;
and in fpring, fitted out a fleet of one hundred and eighty
fail, among which were twenty-five with three banks of
oars, fifty with two banks. They fet fail in June, under
admiral Hamza, who had been cup-bearer to Amurat,
and fleered to Lefbos. The prince fent our author Dukas
on board, to compliment and make him a rich prefent.
Two days after he failed for Khio •, and though he treated
the inhabitants of that ifle with the fame civility, yet they
did him no honours. Upon this fome Turks landed and
fpoiled the vineyards about the city, but it was too flrong
for them to attempt ; befides, there were more than
twenty armed Genoefe fhips in the port. Thence Ham-
za failed to Rhodes ; but having obferved at a diflance
the great extent of the city and number of fhips in the
harbour, he judged tlie iiland to be much ftronger than
that of Khio, and fo departed for Ko. The knights of
Rhodes had left the town, and retired to another called
Rakheas, which was fortified, but after twenty days
fiege was forced to furrender. Returning to Khio, a dif-
pute happened with the iflanders, wherein feveral Turks
^ere killed, and one of the fliips overfet with all the men
on board. The foltan informed of this incident, baniflied
Hamza to the government of Attaha, and declared war
againfl Khio.
A.D.J4.56. Accordingly ten gallies with three banks of oars, and
ten with two, fet fail, under the command of Genuza, a
handfome young man, whom he made alfo governor of Kal-
lipolis. With this force he reduced New Phocea, and while
our author was at court, foliciting the affairs of the prince of
Lefbos, the foltan fent and took Old Phocea. He alfo re-
duced Aynum, whofe prince then refided at Samothrace.
(R) Called Elki Saray, or, foltan, and the foltanas who
the old palace^ in the heart of have had children ; likewife
Conftantinople. It is a vail: the old maids, who having
building, furrounded with high furvived their charms, are
walls, about an Italian mile maintained out of the foltan*s
fquare. Here ufually refide clemency. Cant.
teas taken.
the miftreffes of the deceafed
Mean
Othmdn Empire. 435
Mean wlille, the inhabitants of Khio made their peace, by-
paying thirty thoufand crowns for the galley which was
loil, and ten thoufand yearly tribute.
The people of Lemnos, being difafFe£led to their prince. Lemnos re-
fent to deiire Mohammed to appoint another. Accord- 'volts»
ingly he fent Ifmael Eunuch, the fuccefTor of Genuza,
with two gallies to fettle Hamza there ; a purpofe which
was effected, although the prince of Lefbos, to whom it
belonged, did all he could to bring the rebels to reafon.
This conduct incenfed Mohammed againfl him ^
However, the foltan, in July, turned his arms againft -^ ^' HS^.
Belgrade, and had fuch fuccefs at firft, that he beat down r~ ~"
part of the w^all, and blocked up the paflage of the river ilfig^/^
with fixty veflels. Some of his foldiers alfo got into the ' .
place, and carried ofFplunder : but John Huniades, hap-
pening to arrive the fame day, charged them vigorouHy,
flew many, and drove out the reft, 'ihen making a furi-
ous fally, he took the enemy's cannon, flew a great num-
ber of them, wounded the foltan in the thigh, and burnt *
his (liips, whereupon he broke up the fiege ?. Khalkon-
dylas fays, Huniades himfelf was fo grievoufiy wounded,
that he died in a few days after this engagement, but that
fome reported he died of the plague, which then raged
in the Chriftian camp. To this place muft be referred the
war which Mohammed, according to the Turkifh hifto-
rians, w^ed with the king of Hungary, whofe forces he
defeated. They add, that in the battle the king received
a wound, of ,which he was faid to have died not long af-
ter ; and that then the foltan laid fiege to Belgrade, which
the approach of winter and lofs of men obliged him to
raife ^, Khalkondylas fays, he was at the fame time at
war with the Illyrians, and the emperor of Trebizond ;
and that he fent his gallies under the command of
I^hetir, governor of Amafia, to fcGur the coaft of Kol-
khis^.
Next year pope CaHxtus fent eleven gallies, under the A.D.1457.
condud: of the patriarch of Aquileia, to fuccour Rhodes, — ~ '
Khio, Left)os, Lempos, Imbros, Samothrace, Tafla, and ^j^^j^^'
other iiles, in the neighbourhood of the Turks, where
being joined by th6 Catalan ihips and corfairs, they made
up forty fail, which rendezvoufed at Rhodes. The fol-
tan, attributing all thefe movements to the prince of Lef-
f Dukas, cap. 42—45. z Khalk. lib. viii, cap, 13. ^ Cant.
107. * Kalk. lib. viii. cap. 13, 14,
F f 2 bps
Uzun Ha/'
Sari's em-
bajjy.
AS^ Hiftory of the
bos (Q^), declared war, and fent Ifmael with a fleet In
Auguil againft Methimne ; but after having attempted to
make a breach as well as to undermine and fcale the walls,
he was forced to return, with great lofs.
A.D. 1458, In 1458, ambafladors arrived from the Koman, and
from Uzun Haflan, who commanded in Armenia, border-
ing on the Kolkhians. The latter came to demand a fmall
penfion, which Mohammed's grandfather had granted to
the grandfather of Uzun Haffan, and had been due three-
fcore years. It confided of one thoufand houfings for
horfes, one thoufand carpets, and one thoufand turbans.
The foltans anfwer was, that they might return, and aflure
their mafter, that next year he would go himfelf and carry
him what he owed. Towards winter he began to build at
one end of Conllantinople, near the Golden Gate, a cita-
del ; which the emperor John Paleologus was hindered
from building by Ba-yezid ^.
Let us now return to the afFaIrs of Greece. After Mo-
hammed had built the caftle on the Bofphorus, he fent
Thurakan into the Morea, to make war on the emperor*s
brothers, Thomas and Demetrius ; but after having taken
Neopolikhne, he was obliged to retire, and his fon Ah-
med was feized in an ambufcade K The reduftion of
Conllantinople flruck fuch a terror throughout Greece,
that the lords of the Morea prepared to retire to Italy, ac-
companied by all the perfons of diftindlion throughout
Greece; but Mohammed diverted them by a fudden agree-
ment. This refolution to leave the Morea brought upon
them great calamities ; for the Albanians, feeing them in
a hurry to get away, feized the country , but inftead of
fetting up a governor of their own, they chofe a prince
out of the Greeks, who ftill remained among them. This
was Manuel Kantakuzenus. After which ele6lion they
fell upon the other Greeks, fubje^t to the two defpots,
plundering th^ir eiFefts and carrying off their cattle : for
the Albanians in the Morea were fiiepherds, who lived in
the fields without any fixed habitations. Thefe people af-
fembling, took by force the cities and fortrefTes from the
The Morea
iti'vaJed.
Albanians
feisie it.
^ Dukas, cap. 45.
(Q^) His name was Do-
minic. He fucceeded his fa-
ther Dorini Gattiluzzio, who
died in 14-6. \ he author Du-
kas was an officer of his court,
J Khalk. lib. viii. cap. i.
and carried the tribute twice
or thrice to Mohammed, yet
he no where defcribes the per-
fon of the foltan.
Greek
Othmdn Empire* 437
Greek inhabitants, whom they pillaged ; and, confidering
them as no better than flaves, fent to the Port, offering to
put the towns and forces of the Morea into the foitan's
hands, provided he would leave them in poiTeffion of the
open country.
This furrender being fecretly encouraged by Centerion ^^^^^'^i '»^
Zakharias, brother to the wife of one of the late emperor's p^lJ^^^^
brothers, and one Lukanus ; prince I'homas, the defpot,
caufed them to be feized and imprlfoned in the caftle of
Khlumetia. But on a promife of Centerion's daughter in
marriage, with other advantages, the governor was pre-
vailed on to let them efcape. They firft attacked Klina,
and then Pattras, a city of Akhaia, where refided Thomi s,
the youngeit of the two Greek lords, to whom the Alba-
nians were fubjeft ; but were repulfed at both places.
Neverthelefs the Morea would have been in danger of fall-
ing into the hands of the Albanians, had not the foltan,
at the intreaty of Afan, fent an army under Turakan ;
which having defeated their forces, and taken two thou-^
fand prifoners, with three or four of their towns, they fub-
mitted to their princes, on condition that they fhould
keep the places which they had feized, and not be obliged
to reftore the plunder they had taken.
Turakan, at parting, recommended unity to the two bro- Revolt
thers, as the befl means to keep their fubjeds in obedience; ^Z^*"'
but his back was fcarce turned before they fell at variance,
and endeavoured to fupplant each other. This diffenfion
gave occafion to Lukanus to excite the Albanians and inha-
bitants of the Morea to revolt. They had recourfe to
Afan, as the perfon of greateft power and authority ;
for he had the government of Corinth, and the greater
part of the Morea ; but he refufing to give them any
countenance, they refufed to pay the yearly tribute of
twelve thoufand gold ftatera (R), or any of the ufual
taxes, unlefs the lands were equally divided among them.
And thus the Greeks, by their diflenfions and party quar-
rels, by degrees, dwindled to nothing "".
In the year 1548, Mohammed fent to order the defpots A.D. i45?»
of the Morea either to pay the three years arrears of ten -— •
thoufand ducats tribute, or quit the country. In fpring Corinth
following he marched to attack the Morea, and reduced '^^^''*
^ Khalk. lib. viii- cap. 9, & feqq.
(P.) Amounting to about twenty-four thoufand ducats.
F f 3 ""Corinth,
438
A.D.I459'
The Morea
invadedt
andpart
fubdued.
State of
Athfns de-
linjered to
Moham-
msd.
Hijlory of the
Corinth, without ufing force. At thfe firft news of his ap-
proach, Thomas, one of the defpots, retired to Italy with
his wife and children j and Demetrius, the other, fub-
mitted of his own accord to the foltan ; who carried him
away, with many confiderable perfons of Lacedemon,
Akhaia, and other provinces ; where he placed governors.
He brought two thoufand families from the Morea, which
he fettled at Conftantinople ; and two thoufand young
men, whom he enrolled among his troops ".
According to Khalkondylas, Mohammed having fent his
officers into the Morea, to receive the tribute due to him,
they found the Greeks in fuch feuds among thefelves, that
they forbore preihng either them or the Albanians^on that
head; while the foltan, in confideration of the difcord
that reigned between the defpots, remitted one third of the
tribute, recommending to them only not to violate the
peace which they had fworn to keep. But finding that
they paid no regard to his inftances, he marched with his
army to the Morea, and leaving part of his troops to be-
liege Corinth, penetrated into the country, where he took
Tharfa, Arriba, Phiiafia, Pazenika, and other cities. One
of the princes had retired to Man tinea, the other to Epi-
daurus, cities of Lakonia ; which lafl the foltan longed to
be mailer of ; but finding it too ftrong to attack, he re-
turned to the fiege of Corinth ; where, in his abfence,
Afan had made a fhift to introduce a "good number of fol-
diers, and fome provifions. Although the caflle was ac-
counted impregnable, fituated on a high rock, and inclof-
ed with three very ftrong walls ; yet provifions beginning
to fail after the firft wall had been battered down, the in-
habitants obliged Afan to furrender by capitulation. This
was followed by a peace ; whereby the defpot gave up all
the country which Mohammed had palTed through with his
army, agreed to pay two thoufand ducats tribute, and like-
wife yielded the Egean Sea, the ille of Kalaura, the city
of Pattras, and the country adjoining to Akhaia °,
The war being thus finifhed, Mohammed difbanded his
forces, and went to fee Athens ; where he admired the
Pyrasum, the convenience of its port, and all the fiiperb
ancient buildings. That city had been taken fome time
before hj Oiriar, fon of Turakan, governor of Theflaly,
on the following occafion : on the death of Nerio AcciaoH',
its prince, his duchefs, who had a young fon by him, be-
came miftrefs Of the ftate, by gaining friends at thcTurkifh
•« Dukas, cap. 45,
'• Khalk. lib. ix, cap. i, & 2.
court.
Othmdn Empire. 439
«ourt. Soon after, falling in love with a young "Venetian
gentleman, fon of Pietro Palmerio, podeftat of Nauplium,
who went thither to trade, ihe propofed to put him in pof-
feffion of all, provided he would turn off his wife, and
marry her. Palmerio, fired with love as v/ell as ambition,
went back to Italy ; and, having poifoned his wife, returned
to Athens, and married the amorous duchefs.
Thus he became a great lord •, but was much hated by
the people. He took on him the guardianlliip of her fon,
whom foon after he carried to the foltan, bccaufe Franko,
fon of Antonio Acciaoli, Nerio's nephew, had retired to the
Turkifh court, in hopes one day of obtaining the principa-
lity. Accordingly, as foon as Mohammed heard of the ill-
condu'ft of the widow, he gave the city to Franko; who fent
the duchefs prifoner to the city of Megara ; where, foon
after, (he v/as made away with by his ord^r. Upon this
occafion, her hulband v/ent and complained to Moham-
med ; who, moved by his afrlicftion, ordered Omar to take
Athens. That general found no difficulty in making himfelf
mafter of the city ; but the fortrefs holding out a long
time, he at length prevailed on Franko to furrender it, in
ileu of the country of Beotia and city of Thebes p.
Mean while the defpot Thomas, uneafy under the Turkifh Affairs •/
yoke, began hoftilities againfl his brother the defpot of ^^^^ Morea^
Sparta, who had given his daughter in marriage to Mo-
hammed, and detached troops to befiege Pattras. The fol-
tan fent forces againfl them under Khamus, furnamed the
Spar-hawk ; who feized Ahmed, governor of the Morea,
and Omar, his predecefTor, to whom he had given his
daughter in marriage ; but as foon as they heard of the ge-
neral's approach, they retired to Megalopolis, to their
prince, who then aiTembled a body of Greeks and Alba-
nians, to oppofe the Turks. However, they were eafily de-
feated ; after which victory, the general, leaving part of
his army under Janus and prince Demetrius, to continue
the fiege, ordered the reft into garrifon. Thomas, being
informed of this circumftance, returned, and befieged
the janizaries that remained to guard the fortreffes.
After this period, the Genoefe having demanded a ref- Gemefe di*
titution of Pera, as wrongfully detained from them, and claie ivar*
Mohammed ref ufing -to yield it, they declared war againfl
him. Upon this rupture, the foltan, palling over to Afir,
took from them Amaftris, on the Euxine Sea, by compo-
P JChalk. lib. ix. cap. 3.
F f 4 fition,
440 Hiflory of the
fitlon, and tranfported two thirds of the inhabitants to
Conftantinople.
lahn?^ The Chirkaffians, under Artabales, had but newly re^
tired from the fiege of Trebizond, capital of the empire of
Kolkhis, when Khiter Beg, governor of Amafia, came,
and, furprifmg the fuburbs, made two thoufand prifoners.
As that poor city was almoft difpeopled by the peftilence,
and muil have been taken had the enemy perfifted j the
emperor John offered to become tributary, and pay two
thoufand ducats yearly, provided the captives were re-
ftored ; a propofal to which Moham.med agreed "J.
State of the Before the taking of Conftantinople, Mohammed had
^^u^'m^^^ beftowed the iilands of Lemnos, Imbros, ThalTus, and Sa-
ilie mrea, ^^Qthrace, on one of his officers. But Dorice, after the
death of his father Palemedes, feized the lordfhip of Lef-
bos and Lemnos, with that of Genus ; which were all
quickly recovered. Yet the four ifles fubmitted to the
fleet, which arrived prefently after from Italy, commanded
by the pope's legate. But as foon as that fleet had fet fail
for Rhodes, Ifmael, general of the Turkifh gailies, over-
man Imbros and Lemnos ; and, feizing all the Italians, fent
them to Mohammed, who put them to death at Philippo-?
poli, where he then refided, the plague having driven him
from Conftantinople. Not long after this tranfaclion, Zo-r
gan, having fupplanted Ifmael, and obtained the govern-
ment of Gallipoli, took Thaflus and Samothrace j and fent
' the inhabitants to people Conftantinople.
Afan, having procured an army from the foltan in fa-
vour of prince Demetrius, entered Peloponnefus, and de-r
feated prince Thomas, near Leontarium, where he afterr
wards befieged him for a few days ; but through the opr
pofition of his adverfaries, he was obliged to withdraw ;
for On^ar, governor of Theffaly, and he were always at
variance. For this reafon, foon after, Mohammed gave
his government with that of the Morea to Zogan \ who for
his fervice in taking Morezin, the moft famous corfair in
the Levant feas, had in a fliort time rifen to great credit.
Zogan immediately entered Akhaia with his army, and fat
down before the fortrefs, which forthwith furrendered ;
the Greeks who were there aflembled difperfmg, On the
other hand, the Milanefe, whom Thomas had fent for, on
their arrival began to batter the city \ hut having no more
than one piece of cannon, were obliged to raife the fiege.,
^nd retire to Naupa£lus ^
9 |Chalk. cap. 4, & 5. t Ibid. cap. 6.
Othmdn Empire, 441
Mean while prince Thomas with his forces reduced the Prince
country of Lakonia, and took the city of Kalamata, in the 'Thomas
territory of Meflene. He then went to befiege Mantinea 9 (^ipejfed,
but, finding it was to no purpofe, fent to found whether
Mohammed would give ear to an agreement. The fpltan,
having had advice that Ufun Haflan was in motion in Afia,
confented to a peace, on condition that Thomas ihould
reftore all the places which he had taken from him, and
pay twelve thoufand ducats tribute. The conditions were
accepted of by the prince ; but, he not being able to raife
the money, things were in much diftrattion among his
fubjecls. Mohammed was fo offended, that he _put off
his expedition againft Uzun HalTan, in order to fall upon
the Morea.
Being arrived at Korinth, Afan waited on him, on be- prince De^
half of Demetrius, expelling to be veiled with the com- metrius de^
mand of his army : but when they were at Tegea, he im- '^^^^^*
prifoned him and all his adherents ; then marched to
Sparta. Demetrius would have retired to the caftle,
which is above the town ; but when he heard that his bro-
ther-in-law Afan was a prifoner, he found he had no other
refource, but to go and prefent himfelf before the foltan,
who treated him with great kindnefs j afTuring him, that all
paft tranfaftions fhould be forgotten, and that another
country fhould be given to him inftead of Sparta. How-
ever, he was detained in the camp, and guards were
placed over him.
Mohammed went afterwards and feized a very fine and ciiies
rich Greek city, which lies beyond Sparta, at the foot of taken hy^
the mountain Taugete, three miles from Paleopoli and the ^^^M-^^
river Eurotas. Then he marched to Kaflria, a llrong city
about eight miles diftant, with a caftle on a rugged moun-
tain, five hundred paces high. This place his janizaries
having taken, after a flout refiftance, he ordered the gar-
rifon to be put to the fword, and the governor to be cut in
two, lengthways. Next he took Leontarium, with the
caftle of Kadikea, w^here neither m.an norbeaft was fpared.
Out of fix thoufand inhabitants three hundred were taken
prifoners, and put to the fword in cold blood. The reft
of the cities of the Morea, terrified by this flaughter, fur-
rendered by their deputies. Even Salvarium, in Arkadia,
though a very ftrong place, with a fine port over-againft
Pylos, fubmitted ; and the inhabitants, to the number of
ten thoufand, were fent to people the fuburbs of Conftan-
tinople %
5 Khalk. lib, ixi cap, 7.
Mphammed,
^^Z H'lflory of the
Mohammed, after carrying prince Demetrius about with
him for fome time, guarded and bound, releafed him ;
and, by his perfuafion, fent Jofhua to receive the city of
Epidaurus, and bring away his wife and daughter, whom
the foltan feemed defirous to efpoufe. The citizens deU-
vered the ladies j but would not part with the city. After
this' expedition, Mohammed refolved to fall upon the
places belonging to the Venetians.
tjynque^shy \o the mean time Zogan, governor of the Morea, who
Zfgan* ^ag fg^t to conquer the countries of Akhaia and Elis, took
the city of Kalaurita by furrender, from Doxas, one of the
chiefs among the Albanians, who were afterwards all put
to death. Then he marched to Grebenum, a very ftrong
place ; but, not being able to take it, he proceeded to
' San6la Maura, another city of the Albanians ; whither the
mod wealthy people of the country had retired for fafety.
Thofe of the fortrefs having furrendered by compofition,
Zogan took pofieiTion ; but, contrary to his promife, let
loofe his foldiers, who flew many of the inhabitants, and
made prifoners of all the reft. The other Albanian cities,
in defpair of finding any mercy from the Turks, would
hear no more of furrendering on the faith of their gene-
rals.
FrinceTho- During thefe tranfadrions, Mohammed marched from
masntires. Kardikea, to view Koron, and then proceeded to Pylos,
where prince Thomas was with a fiiip waiting to carry
him off, when he fliould fee occafion ; but the fleet of the
Venetians, to whom it belonged, putting in there, he was
ordered to retire, to avoid giving offence to the foltan.
Accordingly, as foon as he knew that the Othman army
was encamped near the tou'n, he withdrew ; and the Ve-
netian ambafl^adors waited on Mohammed to renew their
treaties. After his troops had fcoured the country, and
made a great number of Albanians captives, he fent prince
Demetrius to reduce Beotia, and marched in perfon into
Akhaya ; where he feized all the ftrong towns and caftles,
which the lords of the country yielded to him. Here, be-
ing informed of Zogan's cruelty at Sanfta Maura, and the
confequence of it, he ordered all the people to be fet at li-
berty ; turning Zogan out of his poll, Vv^hich he gave to
Kliamus ^
A.D.T45?. He afterwards took' Grebenum ; and, marching towards
. — Pattras, fubdued the city of Kaftrimenum : then befieged
Other cities Salmenika, fituate on the top of a high mountain,, with a
taken by
^^^f'^^'- t Kbalk.lib. ix..cap.-8.
med,
caftle
Othmdn Empire* ij4j
caftle on a fleep rock, which he battered for feven or
eight days to no purpofe ; but the janizaries having found
means to turn off the river from the inhabitants, they
were obhged to furrender, and were all made flaves.
The caftle, where one of the Paleologi commanded, wOuld
have come to a compofition ; and Mohammed had, by-
way of preliminary, withdrawn with his army to fome
diftance ; but Khamus, whom he left before the place,
having feized fome of the inhabitants, the reft refufed tp
capitulate. Hereupon the foltan tijrjcjed him out of his
command, and reftored Zogan.
He marched next into the country of Ph^anum, where
he put to the fword a great number of Albanians, who,
on his parole, brought provifions to the camp. He ufed
the fame kind of deceit in the country of Phliunte ; for,
bbferving that the Albanians were generally the caufe of -
the revolt of the Greeks, he refolved to weaken their
power, as the moft effectual way to prevent rebellions for
the future. After thefe exploits, Mohammed returned to
Athens ; where being mifinformed by the janizaries, who
kept the caftle, that the people had confpiied to deliver
up the city to Franco Acciaoli, lord of Beotia, and lately
duke of Athens, he caufed ten of the moft confiderable
citizens to be arrefted, and fent them to dwell at Conftan-
tinople. As to Acciaoli, he fent him to Zogan, who put Acciaoli
him to death. Then, fetting forward, to return byPher- put to
res to Adrianople, he ordered Demetrius to go before, ^^^^^'
and gave him the city of ^nus, with the revenue of the
falt-pits belonging to it ; befides twelve thoufand crowns
out of the treafury ".
In the mean time Zogan befieged Salmenika, and of- Salmenika.
fered the inhabitants very advantageous conditions, which J^J^^"'-^^^'
they rejeded ; but foon after, the chief of the Greeks, ^ *
who, for, a year together, had, with invincible courage,
fuftained the war, and the continual allaults of the Turks,
gave up the place, having liberty to carry off his effefts.
Prince Thomas, having retired from Pylos, repaired to Prince
the illand of Korfu ; where he left his family, and fet fail ^^^^^^
for Italy. At the fame time, he font an ambaffador to ^' ^'^'^^'
know if Mohammed would give him a great extent of
country along the fea-coaft, in exchange for the city of
Epidamnum. The foltan, by way of anfwer, put the en-
voy in irons *, but foon after fent him back. Thomas,
arriving at Rome, was lodged in the pope*s palace^ and
» Khalk. lib. ix, cap. 9,
had
444 Hijiory of the
had a penfion of about three thoufand Iivres for his other
expences ^. Thus the whole Morea fell under the power
of the Turks, except fuch maritime places as were in the
hands of the Venetians.
Heira 86?,
A.D.145S
Semendria
Jurrender-
ed.
A. D. 1459-
Sinope
jigUed,
by Ifmael
Beg.
hugejbips.
Peace tuitk
Ha(fan.
To the Conqtieji of Bofnia.
WHILE thefe fcenes were a6ling in the Morea, the
foltan began his march to recover Semendria, which had
■ been given by the TribaUians to the king of Hungary ; but,
on his approach, the inhabitants delivered up the keys to
him. The Turkifh hiftorians fay, he befieged and took
Semendria, which the Chriftians had fubdued fome years
before : they add, that, within two years after the con-
queft of Conftantinople, he reduced by arms, or capitula-
tion, above forty cities.
In 864, he feized in Afia the territories of Kizel Ah-
med, by the treachery of his brother Ifmael Beg. Ahmed
fled to Uzun Haflan. Hereupon Mohammed pafTed over
with a great army ; and, having routed Uzun Haflan's
forces, took Sinope ^,
The foltan, who was incenfed agalnft the prince of Si-
nope, for having leagued with Uzun Haflan againft him,
fent thither a fleet confifting of one hundred and fifty fail
of galiies and round vefTels, which arrived at the fame
time that he, with his army, reached the place by land :
but Mahmud Bafha arriving before the foltan, had a con-
ference with the prince -, who agreed to furrender up Si-
no.pe, on condition Mohammed would give him Philippoli.
This was agreed to, and he retired thither. Kaflamone
and his other pofleflTions fubmitted : for his territories,
which were very rich, began at the city of Heraklea, which
belonged to Mohammed, and extended from the kingdom
of Pontus to Paphlagonia, and the lands of Turgut. Mo-
hammed carried with him to Conftantinople a (hip of nine
hundred tons, which Ifmael had built, and brought it in-
to port, where he had a larger of his own; but both of
them becoming unferviceable at fea, he built a veflel of
three thoufand tons, which foon after overfet in the port
by the weight of its maft.
It was after this tranfa6lion, according to the Greek
hiftorians, that the foltan marched againft Uzun HafTan \
Jnto whofe dominions he entered after he had pailed Se-
bafte, and took the city of Koreykum. In his march for«
w Khalk. fubi upr. cap. 10.
X Cant. p. 107.
wardj
Othmdn Empire". 445
%ar(l, he was met by the mother of Uzun Haflan ; who
reproaching him mildly with warring againft thofe of his
own nation, as well as faith, he agreed to make peace on
condition that her fon, for the future, fhould neither ra-
vage his territories, nor any way affift the emperor of Tre-
bizondy. According to Dukas, Uzun Haflan, not hav- ,
ing forces fufficient to oppofe Mohammed, retired to the
mountains on the borders of Perfia. The foltan then crofT-
ing Armenia, the river Phafis, and Mount Caukafus,
taking many places in his way, entered Kolkhis, and
marched to Trebizond ; where he found his fleet ^. In TrebiKotttl
his paflage, Koyunlu Hiflar was furrendered to him by hejieged*
Hufleyn Beg, who had married the daughter of the king
of Trapezond. Then, befieging this laft city, David
Comnenus, by the perfuafions of his mother-in-law Sare
Khan, delivered up himfelf and kingdom to Mohammed ;
by whom he was honourably received, and fent, with all
his family, to Conflantinople ^
David was fon of the emperor Alexis, and brother of
John, his predeceflbr j on whofe death, he, by the aflifl:-
ance of the Kabazitans, who commanded at Mezokhalde,
near Trebizond, feized the empire, in prejudice to his
nephew Alexis, who was but four years old. The caufe
of Mohammed's quarrel againft David was, that he had
entered into a clofe alliance with Uzun HaflTan, and given
Jiim his daughter in marriage ; upon an afliirance, that
his fon-in-law would free him from the tribute which he
was to pay the foltan ^.
Mohammed Baflia, who was pofted at Shilolimne, hav- Surrender*
ing had an interview with the great chamberlain George, ^^ 0^ <»''-
the emperor's coufin-german, advifed him to perfuade ^^"''«
David to furrender •, which that prince confented to, pro-
vided the foltan would marry his daughter, and give him
a country of the fame value with his own. Mohammed at
firft refufed to come to any compofition : but, at length,
by the advice of his council, agreed to the terms propofed;
upon which David furrendered the place, and with his
neareft relations was carried to Conftantinople. Mezok-
halde, and the other places, furrendered one after the
other : and thus the city of Trebizond, with the whole
country of Kolkis, which, but a little before, compofed a
noble empire, fell at once into the hands of the Turks.
y Khalk. lib ix. cap lo & u. Dukas, cap. 45. z Duka?,
cap. 45. a Cant. p. 107, b Khalk, lib. viii, cap.
II.
The
4*^
T^he empe-
ror put to
deaths
Slander
Beg'sfuc-
(ties*
Bejieges
Belgrade m
Hljlory of the
The people he difpofed of feveral ways : fome he made
janizaries, others flaves ; and, fome time after, put the
emperor and his fons to death. For the wife of Uzun
HafTan, having written to David to fend her one of his
fbns, or elfe Alexis Comnenus, who was then at Mefe-
lin ; George, the grand chamberlain, gave the letters to
the governor of the princes : but fearing the worft, in cafe
it fiiould by any means come to the knowlege of Mahmud
Baflia, that he was privy to fuch an affair, he took them
back, and delivered them to the foltan himfelf. The fol-
tan, having read them, ordered all the parties above men-
tioned to be ftri6lly guarded ; and, afterwards, to be put
to death, not fparing George, the emperor*s youngeft fon,
who had turned Mohammedan. The daughter of David,
whom he had before taken to wife, he reduced to ferve in
the chamber ^,
It is time now to look back to Skander Beg, and fee
what was doing all this while in Epirus. Mohammed,
foon after his father Morad*s death, fent Hamza, with
twelve thoufand horfe, againft that prince ; who lying
in ambufli on the top of Mount ModrilTa, they were,
in their pafTage by night, defeated with great flaugh-
ter •, and driven down again into the plain, where
Amefa, the prince's nephew, was ready to receive him.
In this adiion, feven thoufand Turks were killed, and the
general, with many officers and common foldiers, taken
prifoners. The year following, fourteen thoufand horfe,
under Debreas, were fent againft Skander Beg; who,
with fix thoufand choice men, marched to furprife him at
Pologus, before he entered Epirus : but, being perceived
by the moon-light, the Turks had time to draw up in or-
der. However, the prince falling on furioufly with his
troops, and, after a fliarp contefl, killing Debreas, the
enemy fled ; leaving four thoufand one hundred and twenty
flain behind them. There fell on this occafion only a few ■
of the Chriflians, among whom Skander Beg diflributed
the fpoii.
After this exploit, Skander Beg, confulting at Dibra
with Mofes, the governor, vi^ho was in the greatefl favour
and authority with him, about laying fiege to Sfetigrade ;
that general, being corrupted by an emiflary of the foltan,
advifed him to change his delign, and befiege Belgrade,
on the borders of Epirus. With this view, the prince re-
ijuelled aid cf Alfonfo, king of Naples ; which being ar-
« Khalk. lib. ix. cap. ii.
rived.
Othmdn Empire. 447
rlv^d, Ke mvefted the place with fourteen thoufand men;
and fo diftrefled it, that the Turks promifed to furrender
in cafe they were not relieved in fixteen days.
The news of this fiegc coming to Mohammed, who
was then going over into Afia againfl the emperor of Tre*
bizond, he fent JSebalias Bafha, with forty thoufand
horfe, to raife it. The politic Bafha, having prevented
notice of his approach, by corrupting Skander Beg's fcouts,
fell unawares on that put of his army which lay in the
plains. MufakhiuSj who commanded thofe troops, drew
them up in the bed manner he could, and made a brave Hh forces
refiftance : but, feeing his men cut dov/n in heaps, at- <i4^^^^
tempted to break through the enemy's ranks ; and, after
performing wonders, was ilain, with all his men. Skan-
der Beg would have come down from the mountains to his
relief; but was diffuaded by his officers from fo danger-
ous an enterprize. However, obferving at laft, that mod
of the Turks followed the purfuit, he defcended fuddenly,
with four thoufand men, and made great flaughter among
thofe who remained in the plain. Then, attacking the
Bafha's rear, did great execution. At length, night ap-
proaching, both -parties retired to the hills: from whence
Skander Beg marched to Epirus *, and Sebalias, in tri-
umph, to Conflantinople. This was the greatefl over-
throw Skander Beg had ever till then fuftained *, his lofs
amounting to two thoufand horfe and three thoufand foot,
moil of them Italians, befides his tents and artillery :
about eighty alfo were taken prifoners. The Turks loft
in all three thoufand.
As foon as Mofes heard of this defeat, he, with a few /?^w// »f
whom he had corrupted, fled to Mohammed ; by whom ^^fih
he was honourably entertained. Skander Beg was amaz-
ed at this accident ; but afterwards, excufing the traitor
on the fcore of the temptation, would fuffer none to re-
proach him. Meanwhile Mofes urged the foltan to pro-
ceed in the v/ar ; and the fpring following was fent with
fifteen thoufand felect horfe to invade Epirus. Skander
Beg advanced to meet him ; and, joining battle, repulfed
the van of the enemy : then, attacking the main body,
Mofes, who commanded it, bent his force againft the
place where the prince was, with a defign to kill him : in
efFe<^, a Turkifli foldier, happening* to encounter him,
ftruck him backward on his horfe ; and the Othman&gave
a great fhout, as thinking him Ilain : but be, recovering
himfelf, alTiiulted his adverfary afrelh, and flew him.
Soon after the enemy fled ; Mofes^ with four thoufand
only,
4%8 H'tftory of the
only, efcaping the flaughter. The foltan would have put
him to death at his return, but for fear of difcouraging
deferters : and, finding himfelf neglected by every body,
he foon after fled back to his old mailer j who reftored
him to all his former polls.
«nd of In the fequel, Amefa, in refentment of certain injuries
Arnefa, done him, as he alleged, by his uncle Skander Beg, with-
drew, with his wife and children, to Conllantinople. He
was kindly received by Mohammed, who, next fpring,
fent Ifhak, the Great Bafha of that city, at the head of*
fifty thoufand men j with orders, as foon as he arrived in
Epirus, to proclaim Amefa, king of that country, that the
inhabitants might fee his quarrel was againft their prince,
not the nation. Skander J3eg, to prepare againft this
florm, levied troops in all parts of his territories : but
commanded in perfon a body of fix thoufand only ; and,
as foon as the Bafha came in fight, fled, not as ufual into
the woods and mountains, but towards LyfTa, a maritime
town of the Venetians, as if he defpaired of keeping the
country.
The Turks Ifliak Baflia hereupon advanced farther into the coun-
defeaiedin ^j-y^ contrary to the advice of Amefa, vi^hom he had pro-
b"t7l claimed king j and, the third day, arrived in the plains of
Amatha : the night following, he encamped in thofe of
Pharfalia, famous for the battle between Csefar and Pom-
pey ; and, next morning, removed to the foot of Mount
Tumenift. Here Skander Beg, who, by his fpies, had
watched all the motions of the enemy, came over the hill
upon them, when they leaft expelled him ; and, break-
ing into their camp before they could be drawn out in or-
der, made fuch a flaughter that they fled, in fpite of all the
intreaties of Ifliak and Amefa, who both behaved gallant-
ly, and were purfued quite out of Epirus. Of the Turks -
were flain twenty thoufand, by the loweil account ; fome
fay thirty thoufand : and of the Chriftians no more than
(ixty (S). The fpoils were very great ; and among the
prifoners were Amefa and a fanjak, with whom Skander
Beg entered Kroja in triumph.
After this battle, no hoflilities were committed by the
Turks for two years *, and on the third, Mohammed con-
cluded a peace for one year with Skander Beg : but, as
foon as it was expired, he fent Sinan Bafha into Epirus,
with an army of twenty thoufand men. This was quick-
(S) Thefe almoft impofTible fads dlfcredit the hiilory of
^kinder Beg.
Othmdn Empire. 449
ly defeated, as was another of thirty thoufand, under
Haflan Beg, who was taken prifoner ; and a third, of
eighteen thoufand, commanded by YulTan Beg, fared no
better. At length, Karaza Beg, an old commander, and
acquaintance of Skander Beg, was, at his requeft, fent
againfi him with forty thoufand men. The prince, being
informed of his approach, aflembled a greater force than
ufual, and, fending two thoufand men before to lie in
ambufh in the enemy's country, defeated their vanguard,
confining of four thoufand horfe. Soon after the reft of
the army entered Epirus : but a hard rain, which conti-
nued for three days, preventing any aftion, the old gene-
ral thought fit to return home, without doing any thing.
Upon this, the foltan, finding, that Skander Beg was
not to be fubdued with fuch forces as he could then fpare
to fend againft him, difpatched an amballador to him with
rich prefents, and propofals of peace ; which was at Peace con"
length concluded in 1461, and continued for fometime**. ^^udeii.
This is the account given by the Italian and other
Chriftian hiftorians, relating to the affairs of Epirus, dur-
ing this war: but Khalkondylas reprefents them in a very
different light. According to that author, Mohammed
fent a great army in fummer againft Skander Beg, whom Epirus
Morad could never reduce, under the command of Jofliua, o'ver-run.
fon of Brenefes ; who over-ran that part of Macedonia
bordering on the Ionian fea. But Skander Beg, having A.D. 1460.
demanded aid of the pope, and Alphonfo, king of Naples, ^---*
his great friend, offering to give up Kroya in return for
their afTiftance, a confiderable body of foot was fent over;
which, landing at Durazzo, entered the Turkifh borders,
plundering and carrying off all who fell into their hands.
Then, joining that prince's troops, they befieged Sfeti-
grade ; and poffibly would have taken it, had not Jofhua
come unexpeftedly upon them, and cut them all in pieces.
Skander Beg himfelf, who happened luckily to be abfent,
foon after retired to his friends in Italy.
At his return, he chofe a convenient place ; which he skander
fortified, to ferve for a retreat, when purfued by the Beg's rt*
Turks. This place was near Durazzo, on the Adriatic treat »
coaft J where there was a httle peninfula of land, about
three quarters of a mile over ; which he inclofed with a
ftrong wall, and peopled with Albanians. He Hkewife
put Durazzo in a better ftate of defence than it was in be-
fore, and thus fecured a retreat by fea, in cafe he fhould
«* Knowles*s Ottom. Emp. edit. Ricaut in Mahomet II.
Mod. Vol. IX. Gg be
A50
Albania
dijmantled*
Great Jhip.
Hejra 865.
A. D. 1460.
AD.T463,
Mitylene
attacked^
ttnifufm
undered.
Hiftory of the
be obliged by fuperior force to quit the land. After hav-
ing taken thefe precautions, forming a flying camp of Al-
banians, he betook himfelf to the mountains ; appearing
fometimes in one place, fometimes in another, wherever his
prefence was neceflary, and had always an eye on the ene-
my ; who foon after came and ravaged the country from
one end to the other, carrying away men and beafts, and
burning the towns and villages, without oppofition ^.
To corroborate this relation of Khalkondylas, Dukas
fays, that Mohammed put to death all the great men of
Albania, and demolifhed all the forts throughout that coun-
try, excepting Monembafia, which he left {landing, con-
trary to his intention. The fame author adds, that the
foltan fent a fleet of a hundred and eighty fhips into the
Egean fea, without reaping any advantage from it : that
he fpent part of the following winter at Adrianople, and
the rell at Conftantinople \ and chat he ordered a (hip
of an extraordinary fize to be built ; and alfo the theatre,
called the Market for Cloaths, named, in Perlian, Be-
zeftan^
The Greek ifiands remaining ftill unfubdued, Moham-
med, in 865, prepared a great fleet, and attacked Mity-
lene; which, though bravely defended, at length was
maflered. The reft would have fliared the fame fate, had
he not been diverted by the Kazikla Voda, prince of Wa-
lakhia, who refufed to pay the ufual tribute s.
The Greek writers are more particular. According to
Dukas, in the month of September, Mohammed, with a
fleet of fixty-feven fail, came before Lefbos, and fum-
moned Nicholas Gattiluzio, who then held it, to furren-
der. Nicholas, who, to poflefs the eftate, had ftrangled
his brother Dominic four years before, had, for the de-
fence of the ifland, repaired the fortifications, and pro-
vided five thpufand foldicrs, befides the inhabitants ; who,
reckoning women and children, amounted to twenty-five
thoufand. On his refufing to give it lip, Mohammed re-
turned to Adrianople, and left the care of the fiege to the
wazir Mahmud ; who battered Lefbos v^ith fuch vigour,
that he beat down that part of the wall called Melanu-
dion, with part of the fortifications and towers.
So great a breach filled the befieged with terror ; and
that though by the afliftance of fome pirates, they conti-
nued to make fallies, and defend the place j yet the
e Khalk.lib. viii. cap. 16,
p. loS.
f Dukas, cap. 45,
« Cant.
prmcCi
Othmm 'Empire, 451
prince, feeing no hopes of lioldlngoutj or of relief, fent
to tell Mohammed Baflia, that he would furrender up the
ifle> provided fome other lands were given him' in lieu of
it, as had been at firft offered^ Of this, 'propofal the Ba-
iha fent advice to iSlohammedj ■ wjip was fq gJad of the
occafion, that he returned to make the agreement in per-
fon. The iiland having been fiirrendered, the commonalty >-
were left to cultivate the land. Of the middle clafs. of
people, fome were made Haves j others enrolled among
the janizaries; xmd the better fort were fent to jC^on-
ftantinople, to repeople that city. As for t^e corfairc,
three hundred in number, they were all cloven, with the
fword from the groin to the breaft, and thus . le:[t;^,i:p ex-
pire in torment. ; "I ,,,''•
Mohammed, foon after his return to his capital, im- thsprlncf
prifoned the prince, with Lucius, his coufin-german, lord beheaded^
of -^nusj who, though young, had affifted him in the
murder of his brother ; and though both of them turned
Mohammedans to fave their lives, yet they were foon
after confined again, and at length beheaded ^.
Mohammed having fent to the waywod of Walakhia to W'alaihia
come and pay him homage, to bring with him five hundred nfufks h9*
young men, and pay for the future ten thoufand crowns a ^^S**
year tribute, that prince replied, that he was willing to
pay the tribute, but he would neither bring the five, hun-
dred men, nor go and adore him. The foltan, incenfed
at this anfwer, fent a confiderable officer, with a fecre-
tary, to tell the waywod to remit the tribute, and that
their mafter would con fider the reft: but the waywod, • . .•
inftead of complying, ordered them to be impaled ; then,
croffing the Danube, ravaged Difteta, and took many
prifoners, whom he alfo impaled. He afterwards de-
feated Hamza, governor of the province, who oppofed
him with ten thoufand men ; and having taken him, with
many others, impaled them all.
Mohammed, mad with rage at this cruel infult,' entered tn^vaded ly
Walakhia with an army of a hundred and fifty thoufand Moham-
rxien; but as the inhabitants had withdrawn into the ^^^^
woods' and pafles of the mountains, the foltan^met with
nothing but a foHtude for feven days together. At length
he arrived in a more agreeable country, but found it
planted with ftakes, bearing the bodies of thofe who had
been impaled ; among which was that of Hamza, drefied
in purple filk. This ftruck him with fear \ and in the
•» Khalk. lib. x. cap. «. ' '
G g ^ night
4^2 Hiftojy of the
niglit, tlic waywod breaking into his camp, made a great
flaughter ; but, at day-break,; retired with his men '\ How-
ever Hall Beg, foil of Mlkhief, 'Seing fent in purfuit, flew
a great number, and took' two thoufand prifoners j. whom
Mohammed ordered to be flain before his face.
The court' After this execution Vladus, leaving fix thoufand horfe
try ravag- (q harrafs the Turks, marched with the reft of his forces
' • to attack I^ogdan, or Bogdan, who had inverted Celium,
or Killa, a city on the Danube. The troops left to follow
the Othmans, had the raflniefs, contrary to their inftruc-
tions, to engage the army, and were routed with the lof»
of two thoufand men ; a difafter which gave Mohammed
an opportunity to range the country unmolefted, and carry
off twa hundred thoufand head of cattle, oxen, and horfes.
, F'r7,ius ex- . The Joltan .left behind him .Drakula, brother of Vladiis^
pelU'd. who, by Els intrigues, gained fo ftrong a party among the
'"■ "Walakhians, ah-eady difaffe^^ed to Vladus -on account ©f
his cruelty, that, by help of the Turkifh troops left on
" the frontiers, he began to conquer the coufttry. Vladus,
■ finding hirnfelf abandoned by his people, rfetired into Hun-
gar y^ . \j'here, being accufed before king Mathias, fon of
^'\ , Huniavles, by the relations' and friends, of thofe he had
* ^^^l^^rc '^■'^ir^^^^red, a rigoTous fehteiice'was pafTed upon him, put-
■ fuant to which he wasfeht.prifbner.to Belgrade, where he
^remained in confinenjetit. ten ye:^rs. At length, being
fet'at liberty, he .v/as flain in a ba.ttle agalnfl the Turks.
ATi.x^it.' ■Ibt8"6 7,. Mohammed ordered the fvatirga Illrnanni, that
~- i^, the fhr/e-$ared Forty iohz^ made towards the fouth,
Otkercon- withfn'the walls of the cit^. ' WhiKl: he ia^-^s^ 'employed. irt
j«^//. »^thfs''v/prk,- the Greeks, '^-ftt conjunction wit?i';thc Vene-
■^tians,,ralfed commotioasrin the IVlaifeaV aild aa^-'ing taken
^'GhinghetjinHk, Sada, Ghiu^elje Kiflar,' Dur^ij, and E-
^" zofnik, ' tried to drive the Turks out of that' province ; but
*jMehemmed.Pafha bein<T fent with a great- army J'q chafk^e
'the rebels, came on them ^fb unexpededh", 'that he hot
. only recovered thofe, cities, but fubdued' the cdnntry-of
^^^'^v'Xl '^Kojeh-HerjCe^; or Ql* fUyria. Thc'fbitan, 'b^r 'way. of
*'^^ Vm ' thankfgivrng for.hrs vi5tbrres, ordered 'the church' of the
' ^.Holy'Apofllestobe dcmoifihed, and a large jam! , "called,
'after his name, Moharhmedicb, to be biiilP iri/'Tt.^' room j
. which'' ]R:ru(^ure, ftarce^^ be paralleled by tht'w-bnders
of antiquity, was ten yc^rsm building. ' '
Heira 86g. In 868, afTembling a great army, he vanquiflied and
iV.D. T46J. flew the prince of Bofnia, then placed ll'rong garrifons in
■ i
iDukas, cap. 45. Khalk, lib. ix. cztp. 14—16.
0th man "Empire* 453
the cailles, and, in his return, Jlrengtliened the borders
between that country and Albania, by erecting fortrelTes
in the narrow paffages of the mountains ''.
The war of the" Morea, which is placed firfl by the
Turkifli, is, as it frequently happens in other cafes, placed
laft by the Chriftian hiflorians, who are more diiTuiive in
their relation of fa6ts. Mohammed having, after the
Walakhian expedition, built feveral callles, and among
the reft, the faray, or feraglio, at Conftantinople, and
the caftles on the Hellefpont, next fpring made war on
the Illyrians inhabiting Bofnia, becaufe their prince pe- Bofnm in^
remptorily refufed to pay the ufual tribute of fifty thou- vaded and
fand ducats. Ar the fame time he refoived to invade the fubdued.
country of Sandal, the baftard fon of him who before
commanded the Illyrians. The brothers, quarrelling
about the poiTefGon of their father's territories, referred
the deciiion to Mohammed, who adjudged it to Sandal,
and ordered liliak governor of the Skopians, to afiift him ;
hereupon Sandal made war on his brothers, and ravaged
the country.
Mohammed, halving crofled the river Dorobiza, which
feparates the Triballians from the Illyrians, marched to the
Illyriflus, which having pafled on rafts, he fuddenly over-
ran the country, and laid fiege^to the city of Dorobiza.
This place, though exceeding ftrong, and of dithcult ap-
proach, fituate on a high mountain, after a few days
bombarding^ capitulated. He afterwards fent Mahmud
Bifha to furprife the prince of the Illyrians ; who, on his
approach, fled to the city of Klitia, fituated in a marfliy
foil, fo that it was inacceffible in winter ; but the ground
being dried by the heat of the fummerfun, the Baiha ad-
vanced to the very ditch, and prepared to attack the place.
Hereupon it was furrendered to him, on condition that
the lives of the prince and the inhabitants, with their
effecls, (hould be faved.
The country of Sandal reached to the very gates of Ra- Countn »f
gufa, with which he had fome difpute. Having engaged Sandal
in an amour with the wife of a Florentine merchant, he y«^^«^^»
began to treat his princefs with contempt. She, i^ot ^^^^^^^
brooking this ill ufage, retired, with her fon, a youth, to
the Ragiifans ; who refufed to fend her back unlefs San-
dal parted with his miftrefs. Hereupon he declared war
againftthem'i and meeting their army, the command of
which they had given to his fon, he defeated the enemy,
^ Cant, r '08, &feq.
G g 3 and ^
454 Hifiory of the
'- and then invited the foltan to join him againft the prince
of the Illyrians ; but finding the Turks came in greater
numbers than he deiired, he flood on his guard to defend
his country.
Mahmud Bafha, having performed this fervice, went
to meet the foltan ; who, in the mean time, had marched
to Jaytia, the capital of all the Illyrians, which imme-^
diately furrendered to him, frightened at the taking of
Dorobiza', their flrongeft fortrefs. Several places fub-
mitted to the Baiha in his way, by order of their prince,
whom Mohammed carried with him into the country of
Sandal ; for nov/ all the Illyrians were fubdued. The foU
tan,- prefently after, fent to Ragufa to demand Sandal's
wife ; but fhe, who had forefeen as much, retired in time
to Italy. Then gatliering all his forces, he entered the
country of Sandal, which he ravaged from one end to the
other, and laid fiege to his capital city ; but not being
able' to reduce it, after a few aflaults, turned his arms
againft the territories of Conftantine, Karagufa, and Paul,
who all fu omitted to him, and were carried away pri-
foners. As to the prince of the Illyrians, having been
taken one morning bndeatduring to make his efcape, Mo-
hammed fent for him, and notwithftanding the Baflia's
letters of fecurity, caufed his head to be cut off on the
fpot J fome fay he was flayed alive '.
Wars with Skdnde^, Beg and the Venetians,
Feneiians THE Venetians, ''a.vho were his next neighbours, faw,
declare with a jealous eye, the fucceffes of Mohammed ; and al-
•war, though, the Turks, :On feveral occafions, had ufed their
fubjedts ill, yet were afraid to take up arms. At length
Jofhua, fon of Alban, having feized Argos by the trea-
chery of a prieft, and Omsr, fon of Turakan, made in-
roads on the territory of Naupa£lus ; while both of them
plundered the lands near Modon, in the Morea, which
belonged to the Venetians, Viftorio Capelli,-by. a gener-
ous fpeech, prevailed on the fenate to invite the liunga-
rians to a confederacy, and. then declare war. Ambaf-
iadors being fent on that occafion, with twenty-live thou-
fand ducats as a prefent, king Mathias, fon of Huniades,
jaifed forces,, and entering unexpectedly into the Othman
territqvJQS,. demoliftied the fortifications built by Sabutin
' Khalk, lib. x. cap. 7 & feq.
Othmdn Empire. ^55
to block up Belgrade j then, advancing as far as the Save
routed the Turks and Triballlans, who oppofed him, and
carried back twenty thoufand Haves, which was all the
work performed by the Hungarians. ^
The Venetians, on the other fide, immediately put to invade th$
fea thirty-five gallies and twelve great fhips, filled with Mona,
infantry, and two thoufand light horfe, under the com-
mand of Aloyfio Loridano. They were joined alfo by
four thoufand outlaws from Kandia. Thefe landing in
the Morea, excited the inhabitants to a general revolt.
The Turkifli governor, who refided at Megalopolis, or
Leontarium, immediately fent advice of thefe motions to
the Porte; while the Venetians, marching from Nauplium,
laid fiege to Argos, which prefently furrendered, there
being no more than fifty janizaries in garrifon, who had
liberty to withdraw with their baggage.
The firft care of the Greeks and Albanians was to repair Kepnir tkt
the wall of the ifthmus, as well to prevent the efcape of '^^^'
the janizaries difperfed in the garrifons, as to keep out
the enemy ; and by the afliflance of the Venetians, who
brought llones and other materials by fea, that fortifica-
tion was, in a few days, put in a ftate of defence. Mean
while they folicited the people on every fide to join them ;
but thofe of Korinth rejecSiing their propofals, they laid
fiege to that city, which yet they were forced to raife.
They failed alfo to detach Akhaia from Mohammed ; nor
did any city of Lakonia revolt to them excepting Sparta j
for the Turks continually fcoured the roads on all fides,
and thus difconcerted their meafures. In fhort, it being
winter time, and very cold weather, the foldiers could
hardly be prevailed on to guard the wall; at length, news Abandon it*
arriving that Mahmud Ba(ha approached with a great
army, and was followed by the fohan himfelf at the head
of more numerous forces, it was thought fit to abandon
the ifthmus, and retire to the places which were in their
hands.
Mean while the Turks were no lefs afraid of the Vene^ Morea re»
tians ; for the Baflia being come to Larifia, Omar, gover- <9V€r€d,
nor of Theflaly, advifed him to proceed no farther, till he
fent to inform the foltan, that his prefence was abfolutely
necefiary, the affair being of too great importance for his
generals to execute: but foon after letters arriving with
an account how matters ftood, Mahnmd marched for-
ward, and finding the wall deferted, and the fhips put
out to fea, took his road by Korinth, dire^lly for Argos,
which was defended by feventy Italians, whom be took
G g 4 prifoncrs;
456
takg Lem-
Skcmder
Beg de-
clarei ivar.
Hiftory of the
prifoners : then paffing through the country of Tegea he
encamped near Leohtarium, from whence he detached
Zogan, newly made governor of the Morea, in the room
of Jofliua, fon of Alban, to furnifh Pattras, and other'
neighbouring places, with provifion and military (lores.
At the fame time he fent Omar to ravage the Venetian
territories, with twenty thoufand men, who, near Mo-
don took a town by aiOi^iult j the inhabitants, about five
hundred in number, being fent to Confhantinople, were
cut in two by the middle, in the prefence of thefoltan.
The Bafha, finding the feafon unfit for attacking for-
trefles, left Omar and Afan at Sparta, to perfuade the
inhabitants of that city, Tenarus, Epidaurus, and other
places, to return to their obedience : but although they
were ilrangeiy alarmed at the unexpected entrance of the
Turks into the Morea, and many had fled to the moun-
tains for fecurity 5 yet, buoyed up by the Venetians, who
promifed great matters, from their own and the Hun-
garian invafion, they would hearken to no accomoda-
tion.
Mean time, the Venetians recovered Lemnos, by means
of one Komnenus, captain of the fortrefs *, who pre-
vented the principal men of the ifland from felling it to
thofe Italians, by delivering it up to them. After which
acquifition, they returned to the Morea, with (tore of
pfovifions to fupply the fortrefles •".
Kominius or Komnenus, who had furprifed the ifland of
Lemnos from the Turks, was fucceeded in his command
by Urfato Juftiniani, who fcoured the Egean fea with
thirty-two gallies *, while AndreoDandalo, by land, raihly
engaging the Turkifli horfe, near Mantinea, was defeated
and fiain, with one thoufand five hundred of his men.
Urfato had ftill worfe luck at the fiege of Mitylene, in
Lefbos *, where, in two aflaults, he loft five thoufand
men ; for grief of which he died foon after in the Morea,
and was fucceeded in command by Jacomo Laurentani.
The Venetians, much weakened by thefe loiTes, fclicited
the pope ; wh© procured them great fupplies from Ger-
many, France, Spain, and other countries. They alfo
intreated Skander Beg to renounce his league with Mo-
hammed, and join with them. The foltan, fearing that
prince fl-jould be made general of the Chrittian forces,
lent to him ; ofFering to pardon fome inroads of the Epi-
rotSj in cafe he would renew the league : but Skander
Jvbalk. lib. x. cap. 7--H.
Beg
Othmdn Empire. 457
Beg having at this time received a letter from the pope,
fignifying that he, accompanied by the Chriftian princes,
would fpeedily pafs over to Epirus with a ftrong army,
and exhorting him to declare war againil the Turks,
that prince broke into the Othman dominions •, and, ra-
vaging the country every where, returned with confider-
able plunder.
Mohammed, to put a Hop to Skander Beg's career, Hh great
fent Seremet Baiha, with fourteen thoufand men ; who 'vi^ones.
polled himfelf near Okrida, in Macedonia. The prince,
informed of his defign, having placed twelve thoufand
men in ambufli, fent out five hundred horfe, with orders,
in cafe they could not draw the enemy into the field, to
retire on the leaft oppofition, and fo decoy them Into the
fnare ; which llratagem taking efrecSt, the Turks were at-
tacked on every fide, and loft twenty thoufand men.
The treafurer of the army, with twelve other confider-
able officers, were taken prifoners, and ranfomed for
forty thoufand ducats. Skander Beg, on this fuccefs, A.D. 1464.
returned to Epirus, expedling the arrival of the Chriftlan ■
forces : but the death of pope Pius, at Amana, as he
was ready to embark with them, fuddenly difperfed the
army, to the great difappointment of thofe who depend-
ed on its afTiftance.
However, the Venetians, having made Vitorio Capelli ^»etians
their captain-general, went on with the war j and, in a ^Jv^'^'P'
fhort time, took Aulis, in the iile of Eubsea or Negro- *
pont, Lirfum, in the gulf of Theflalonika, and the ifle
of Himber. Then landing his men at Pyraeum, he fur-
prifed Athens : from, whence he carried all the people,
with the plunder, to Eubaea. Here, being informed, that
Pattras, in the Morea, would be delivered up to him by
the Chriftlan inhabitants, he landed four thoufand foot
and two hundred horfe ; who, advancing in diforder
within a mile of the city, were routed by the Turkifh
garrifon. In this adtlon, BarbarinI, who led the foot, was
flain : Ragio, who commanded the horfe, being taken,
was Impaled ; and fcarce one thoufand of the men ef-
caped to the gallles. Capelli was fo concerned at this
lofs, and that v/hich he fuftalned In his fecond attempt on
Pattras, that he foon after died of grief, in Eubiea.
The Venetians, much difcouraged by this ill fuccefs, Seyj'ia ra*
applied for afliftance to Mathlas Korvini, fon of the fa- 'vaged.
mous H unlades, king of Hungary *, who, taking their
territories under his protection, early in the fpring pafied
the-
45 S • Ijyi'ory of the
A.D. 1465. the Danube, at Belgrade, with a great army; and, razing
• th^ forts which the Turks had built there, entered Servia,
frqm whence he returned with twenty thoufand prifoners,
befides vail plunder.
Palibatius'^ In the mean time, Mohammed, to revenge the late
defea:ed ^'overthrow of Seremet Baflia, fent fifteen thoufand horfe
Skarider ^^^ three thoufand foot into Epirus, under the command
^^' ■ of Balibanus Budera, an Epirot born, but bred a Moham^
X medan, and the firft who mounted the wall at the taking
of Conflantinople. This general, arriving at Alchria, on
the frontiers of Epirus, attempted to furprife Skander
Beg ; who was incamped with a few troops in the neigli-
bourhood : but, miffing of his aim, foon after advanced
towards a rugged hill, which inclofes part of the valley
of Valkhal, where that prince then lay with four thoufand
horfe and fifteen thoufand foot, who, on the other's ap-
proach, retired to a hill behind them. Balibanus, taking
this for a flight, hailily came forward to attack him ; but,
V after a long and doubtful battle, was routed. However,
fome of Skander Beg's bed officers, purfuing the enemy
beyond their orders, were furrounded, and, after adefperate
refinance, taken prifoners. Among the^-°: were the fa-
mous Mofes Galanus, Mufachius, Giuizj, Perlot, and
others. They were all fent to Conftantinople, whither
Skander Beg difpatched an ambafiador to obtain their
freedom •, but the foltan, reje6i:ing his propofal for either
exchange or ranfom, after treating them in the moft op-
probious manner, caufed them all to be flayed alive j un-
der wiiich torment they lived fifteen days.
Deftated Balibanus, after having corrupted Skander Beg*s fcouts,
agattt. would have furprifed him ijn his camp at Oronikheum ;
if he himfelf, ever on the watch, had not, in the dead
of night, difcovered the enemy at a diflance, by the noife
of their horfes. Then, quickly putting his army in order,
he gave them fuch a warm reception, that the greater
part of them were flain ; the general and the reft with
difficulty efcaping. Balibanus, finding artifice would not
do, and having a recruit of fourteen thoufand horfe an4
three thoufand foot, marched to the great plains of Sfeti-
grade to attack Skander Beg ; who, with only eight thou-
fand horfe and one thoufand five hundred foot, performed
wonders. In the battle, his horfe being flain, and him-
felf bruifed in the fall, the Turks flocked about to kill
him ; but he was refcued by his foldiers ; and prefently
after having killed with his own hand Soiyman, a great
Turkilii
Othmdn Empire.. 459
Turkifh commander, the enemy fled : while the vi£\ors,
purfuing, made ^ great flaughter, fo that but a few,
with Balibanus himfelf, efcaped.
This commander, on his return to Conftantinople, a- A third
fcribed his ill fuccefs to the fmall number of his forces j viaory,
and,, and having applied for a ftrong body of troops, he
was difpatched to Epirus with forty thoufand men. Of
thefe taking twenty thoufand horfe and four thoufand foot,
he marched the neareft way to Ep'rus, leaving Yakub Ar-
nau~d, otherwife named James the Epirot, with fixteen
thoufand horfe, to take another route, and fo hem in
SkaVider Beg between them. Being arrived at the valley
of Valkhal, the prince, who had eight thoufand horfe and
four thoufand foot, marched towards him. He would
have waited till Yakub came up ; but his foldiers b^ing
impatient to engage, a fierce battle was fought ; when,
in the midft of the engagement, the old garrifon of
Kroja arriving to the afliftance of the Epirots, the Turks
were overthrown with great flaughter, only Balibanus and
a few more efcaping. The Chriftians had fcarce time to Yakub
breathe, when Yakub advanced with his forces, and, Jlain^
though much difcouraged when he found Balibanus had
been defeated, yet did not decline the combat : but Skan-
der Beg made fliort work of it •, for having fmgled out the
general, he attacked and flew him ; oa which the Turks
fled, and in the purfuit were moft of them flain or taken.
They loft in the tv/o battles thirty thoufand men, whereof
fix thoufand were prifoners ".
During thefe tranfa(ftions, Karaman Ogli Ibrahim Beg, Karama-
the inveterate enemy of the Othman race, died, leaving ^^'^^
fix fons. Ifhak Beg, the eldeft, having driven out his ^''^^^^^^*
brothers, and feized the whole dominion, they fled to Mx)-
hammed, whom they defired to appoint a fucceflbr, ac-
cording to his pleafure. The foltan, glad of the occafion,
name Ahmed Beg ; and, advancing the reft to honours in
his own court, fent him back at the head of a confiderable
army ; with which he enters Karamania, and defeated his
brother, who fled to Uzun HafTan °.
To return to the affairs of SkanderBeg. The foltan, as K^oja be--
the fureft way to get rid of him, hired two Turks to ailaf- fuged,
fmate him. The better to fucceed in their defign, they ,
turned Chriftians ; but quarreling on fome occafion, and
letting drop fome fufpicious words, on ftrift examination
corlfefl^ed the matter, and were executed. After this mif-
»» Ricaut, ubi fupr. " Cant. p. 109, & feq.
carriage
4^0 ; Hljiory of the
carriage Mohammed marched into Epirus with two hun-
dred thoufand men, and inverted Kroja; but fearing to be
difgraced before it, as his father had been, left Balibanus, •
■with twenty-three thoufand men and eight generals more,
each with feven thoufand under his command, to con-
tinue the fiege. In his return to Conllantinople, he took
fome forts from Skander Beg; corrupting the governor of
Khidna, where three thoufand men were in garrifon, the.
place was delivered to him, and all the inhabitants, con-
trary to articles, put to the fword.
ReVte'ved Skander Beg, unable to relieve Kroja, went privately to
by Skander Rome to defire aid of pope Paul II. but could obtain none.
^^S* However, on his return, finding the fuccours which he
had demanded of the Venetians and other princes arrived,
he in a few days made up an army of thirteen thoufand
four hundred men ; with whom he marched towards Kro-
ja. By the way, he furprifed lonima and Hadar, going
with a fupply to their brother Balibanus, routed their men,
and took them both prifoners. Then, coming up with-
the befiegers, drove them from Mount Kruma, their chief
port, and neareft to Kroja. Upon this relief, the city re-
jected the propofals for furrendering made by Balibanus ;
Balibanus who at the fime time advancing againft part of the garri-
Jlain. £qj^^ which had made a fally, was (hot by George Alexius
through the neck j of which wound he died. The Turks
were To difcouraged at this accident, that they filently re-
tired, leaving their camp behind them ; and, finding the
pafies of the mountains (topped, offered to deliver up
their horfes and arms for liberty to depart : but this being
denied them,, they refolved to fight their way through .;
a retreat which, afcer much lofs, they effected.
A D 14.66 ^" ^^^ fpring following, Mohammed marched once more
, with a mighty army into Epirus : where having rebuilt the
Mohammed city of Valmes, he advanced towards Durazzo, belonging
invades to the Venetians, with a view to furprife it. Being dif-
Eptrus. appointed in his aim, after fome time h^ decamped from
before it, and laid fiege to Kroja; but, finding he. could
not prevail on the inhabitants, either by threats or pro-
mifes, to furrender, he went and razed Khiuril, a city
newly founded by bkander Beg, and then returned to
Ccnftantinople.
Skander Shander Beg, having made a progrefs through his king-
hegdies- dom to view the ftate of it, went to Lyffa,- a city of the
Venetians, there to confult with the ambaffadors of the
confederate princes, particularly about taking Valmes
above mentioned 5 which was a great annoyance to the
Epirots.
Qthmdn Empire, 46 1
Epirots. - Here, being felzed with a fever, he died the \ 7th
of January, 1466, after he had recommended his -wife and
fon to the proteftion of the republic, having lived fixty-
tliree years, and reigned twenty-four. His body was bu-
ried in the cathedral, and there relied about nine years,
when the Turks took Lyfla, and with great refpecfl: dug
up his bones. Some thought themfelves happy to fee and
touch them ; and fuch as could obtain a bit, fet it in gold
'or filver, to wear about theni, fuperftitioully imagining,,
that they ftiould partake of the owner's good fortune p.
The Turkifli hiftorians take no notice of SkanderBeg's Albania
death; but fpeak as if Epirus was entirely fubdued about reduaJ,
this time. Crouding the tranfaftions of feveral years into
one, they only tell us, in ftiort, that Mohammed, to finifh
the redu6lion of Arnaud, or Albania, which his father
Morad had begun, by vanquifhing Skander Beg, its re-
bellious prince, and fubduing moft of the fortreffes,
marched thither in 870, and took all the remaining towns Hejra 870,
from the rebels. Some of them he demoliflied, and, to A.D. 1465.
prevent future commotions, commanded a llrong city to — — — •
be buihat the entrance of the province.
The foltan, having now fubJued almoft all his Inteftine Karama-
enemies in Europe, pafled over into Afia. Refolving to re- »^«/«*'
venge the injuries done to his anceftors by the Karamanian ' "^ *
kings, he entered their country with a great army ; and
expelling Ahmed, with his brothers, made his eldeO: fon
Moftafa king of Karamania ; which next year he entire-
ly fubdued, placing garrifons in Ak Saray and Ghiul-
luk^.
During the tranfaftlons in Epirus, the Hungarians by Bofma re^
land, and Venetians by fea, kept the Turks in continual covered.
play. King Mathias, purfuant to this promife to the lat-
ter, entered Bofnia, and never ceafed till he had wrefled
the whole kingdom out of the hands of the Turks. Thefe
afterwards endeavoured to recover Jaziga, the capital, but
were forced to raife the fiege ; and being followed by the
kini^ into Servia, he took part of that kingdom alfo from
them : by which a£lions his name became as dreadful to
the Othmans as that of his father Huniades had been.
On the other fide, the Venetians, and their captain- Venetian
general Canalis, burned feveral towns and villages about [uccejfes,
the bay of Saloniki, or ThelTalonika, fortified Legoftinum
'in the gulf of Fattras, and furprifed iEnus at the mouth
;bf the river Hebrus 5 from whence Canalis returned to Ne-
P Bicaut. ubifupr. 'i Cantemir's Othm. Hift. p. 310.
gropont
Hejra 874.
A.D.1469,
Ciiy of //■(?-
gropofit.
A.D, 1470.
*raken by
Moham-
mcd.
^6z Hijiory of the
gropont witH one tKoufand captives. At the fame time,
the Venetians afTifling Nicholas Du Chaine againft his bro-
ther Alexius, then at variance about the principality of Za-
* clrima, gave the Turks a great overthrow near the river
Drino, in Epirus, or Albania.
The ifland of Egriboz or Negropont, the ancient Eu-
bsea, being the only place in Europe which feemed for-
midable to Mohammed, he, in 874, marched with a great
army attended by a fleet, into Greece ; and, in one
month, took the ftrongeft city of that age, in fight of a
confiderable fleet of Venetians ; who, after coming to the
affiflance of the befieged, retired, to their great difhonour,
without firing a gun ^ With regard to this remarkable
aftion, the Chriftian writers tell us, that, as the ifland of
Negropont lay very convenient for invading the Othman
fea-coaft, and afforded the Venetians an eafy retreat, Mo-
hammed refolved to take it from them. With this view
he fent thither three hundred gallies, under Mahmud, the
great bafha, and followed him in perfon with a numerous
army. At his landing, he took and razed Stora and
Bafiiikcn. Then, laying a bridge of boats over the ftrait
between the ifland and Akhai, he raifed batteries againft
Khalcide, or Negropont, the capital city, by the direction
of a traitor, who fhewed his engineers the weakeft parts
of the wall ♦, for which, being difcovered, he was hanged.
After thirty days fiege, the Venetian admiral came in
fight of the city ; at whofe appearance Mohammed was
inclined to decamp, for fear the enemy fhould break
his bridge, and fo cut ofl his communication with- the firm
The ifland land; but the admiral bafely flipped the opportunity,
Jubdued, while the Turks, pufliing on the fiege with double fury,
at length carried the place by ftorm. The aflault lafted a
whole day and night; yet, after they had been twice
beaten off the breaches, they entered, and flew all the in-
habitants. The governor's daughter was fpared, and pre-
fented to Mohammed as a mirror of beauty ; but fhe, with
great confiancy, refufing to gratify his paflion, he order-
ed her to be flain. This great lofs the Venetians endea-
voured to repair not long after, by furprifing the ifland,
but failed in the attempt ".
A.D.14.7T. f^hefe conqueits induced feveral ftrong cities to fubmit
,. to the foltan -, and, in 876, Kizul Arfian Beg, lord of
Alaeh, voluntarily furrendered his dominions. In return
for M'hiclx, Mohammed bellowed on him the province of
Ghiumo'ljina for ever.
'Cant. p. Ill, s Ricaut, ubi fupr.
The
Othmdn J^mplre. Ap'i
The Venetians, to prevent farther mlfchief, not only A.D 1473
entered into a conlederacy with pope Sixtus IV. FeJrdi-
nand, king of NaplCsS, Lewis, king of Cyprus, and tlie (Venetians
grand-mailer of Rhodes, butfent Katarini Zeno to Uizlin ^.^'^^^fi
Haflan, with large prefents, to induce him to make war J^jj^^
on Mohammed ; who, by his ambafladors, alfo endeavour-
ed to difluade him from a rupture. Mean whirle, their
xaptain-general, Mocenigo, with his fleet, ravaged the
ifland of Lefbos, or Mitylene, and the country about Per-
gamus, in Leffer Afia. Afterwards, landing at Knidus,
he carried off a great booty. Then joining (even teen gal-
lies of king Ferdinand at Modon, he returned to Ana ;
and, pillaging the coaft for four days, fet fail for Hallikar-
iiaffus, where they took an immenfe fpoil. There being
joined by twenty gallies of the pope, and two from Rhodes,
they failed to Samos, and thence to Attalia, capital of
Pamphilia, whofe fuburbs they plundered and burnt; but
not being able to take the city, they ravaged the coaft, and
returned to Rhodes. There they met with the king of
Perfia's ambafladors, fent to the pope and Venetians for
a fupply of great guns by his mafter, who' had entered into
a league with the Chriflian princes againft Mohammed.
The fleet next failed to FCaria ; and carried from thence
great fpoil to Naxos. Here the gallies of Naples returned
home, while Mocenigo, with the legate, failed back to
Afia, and took Smyrna, which he plundered and fired.
Ihen, winter coming on, he returned home iikev/ife.
Next year Mocinego failed again to the coail of Afia ; A.D.1473.
and, aflfifting KaflaniBeg, prince of Cilicia, who with his ■■
brother Pir Ahmed had been difpofiefled by Mohammed,
they recovered Sikhinum, Korikus, and at length Seleucia.
Then, having ravaged the country of Lydia, he returned
to the Morea ^ ....
About the fame time Yufef Beg general .of Uzun Haf- A.D.1470.
fan, in conjundlion with a great army of Tatars, entered z, T""
the Othman dominions, and burned Tokad; but invading V'f ^"l!^^
Karamania, he was met by Moilafa the new king ; and, 'Jz^^ Haf-
after a long and bloody battle, being defeated and taken, fan.
was fent in chains to the foltan. To revenge this blow,
Uzun Hafl'an hiniifelf, next year, entered the Othman do-
minions with a powerful army. Mohammed, who ex-
pelled this invafion, haftened over to Afia, and met the
Perfians at Payas ; where a battle was fought with doubt-
ful fuccefs J but at length Moftafa, the foltan's eldell fon,
' Ricaut, ubi fupra.
who
4^4 Hiftory of the
who commanded the left-wing, meeting ZeynoMdin, Uzun
Halian's fon, who led the enemy's right-wing, after a
fierce combat, unhorfed him, and before he could recover
himfelf, ran him through the body. Upon this, the right-
wing flying, the Oihmans attacked the left fo furioufly,
that at length they betook themfelves alfo to flight, Uzun
Hafl^an efcaping with a few attendants only ^
Farfak The roads being too diflicult for a purfuit, Mohammed
conquered, befieged Kara HifTar Sharki (T), which he foon reduced,
and then returned with part of his army, leaving the reft
under the command of Ghiedik Ahmed Pafha ; who not
only tt>ok Ermenak and Zilifkeh, but fubdued the whole
province of Varfak.
Hejra 876. Next year the fame Pafha wrefled from the Genoefe,
A.D. 1471, Kiefl^e, or KafPa, the ftrongeft place in Krim, which by
"~~~; that conqueft was reduced to his obedience. Here he
taken, found Mengli Ghieray, defcended from the princes of
Kopchak ; who, after a long war with his brother, was
forced to fly to the Genoefe. Him the foltan appointed
khan of the Krim, or Taurica Kherfonefus, and fent with
an army to recover his country ; an aim which he efFe6led,
- after having killed his brother in battle. This was the firft
khan of Tatary appointed by the Turks, and the firlt who
in Krim ordered the khotba to be ufed in the prayers in
the name of the Othman emperor.
Defeatedin Whilft thefe things pafled in the Krim, Solyman Paflia
Moldanjia. ]ed a confiderable army into Moldavia ; where, being met
by Stephen near Falchi, on the Prut, a long and doubtful
battle enfued j but at laft, by the negligence of their ge-
neral, the Othmans were overthrown, and himfelf killed, .
Mohammed, alarmed at this difafter, marched next year
with all his forces into the fame country 5 which he layed
wafte, and carried away an infinite number of cattle and
inhabitants ^
A.D.1477. In the mean time Kroja in Albania being befieged by
■ — the Turks, the Venetians, under whofe prote6tion it was,
Bejieges fg^it Franclfco Contareni with an army; who meeting the
*^^°J'^' enemy in the plains of Tyranna, routed them, after a very
fharp conteft ; but the foldiers falling greedily to plunder,
the Othmans rallied and defeated them, killing one thou-
fand, v/ith their general. After this action they not only
made divers incurfions into the countries of Dalmatia, If-
s Cant. p. 111. * Ibid. 112, & feqq.
(T) A noted city of Paphlagonla, near Payas.
tria,
Hljlory of the 4%
tria, and Carniola, but, having routed fome Venetian A.D. 147?.
troops at the river Sontium, ravaged the province of Fri .
uli at their pleafure. They committed the fame fpoil the Venetians
following year in the mountains towards Germany ; and, ^°^^^"*
after a twelve-month*s fiege, Skodra furrendered for want
of provifions.
Mohammed, to revenge the repulfe he met with before Skodra in-
Skodra, or Skutari, a ftrong city of the Venetians, in Al- 'vejiedi
bania, about four years before, fent Ali Beg to befiege it
a fecond time with eighty thoufand men j who in their
march burnt and deflroyed the country. May 14th, they
arrived at the fuburbs, and in a month were joined by fif-
ty thoufand troops. Having call cannon, and built a
wooden bridge over the river, they began the 20th of June
to batter the walls with their artillery and mortars. July
2d, the foltan himfelf arrived with his whole force, amount-
ing in all to three hundred and fifty thoufand men. At
length, breaches being made, the Turks gave feveral def-
perate alTaults ; and, though they fixed their ftandards
four or five times on the rampart, were (lill beaten oiF,
once with the lofs of twelve thoufand men ; while the be-
{leged loft no more than four hundred. Mohammed, def-
pairing of taking the place by force, after feven fruitlefs
attacks, changed the fiege into a blockade. Mean while,
Daud Gayola, great baflia of Conftantinople, being fent to
take the lefTer cities of the Venetians, reduced Zabiak-
he, on the lake of Skutari ; and LyiTa, which the inhabi-
tants deferted and fired. Drivafta alfo was fubdued by
Moftafa, beglerbeg of Afia. The foltan, leaving Gheduk
Ahmed to take care of the blockade with forty thoufand
men, returned to Conftantinople.
Mean while the Venetians, feeing themfelves unfortu- furrender-
nate in every quarter, fent Trevifano to the Porte ; who at ed on peace
length, in 1478, concluded a peace, by giving up Skodra, 1^^^^ '^^
the ifle of Lemnos, and the ftrong caftle of Tenarus in the *
Morea, befides paying yearly near eight thoufand ducats ;
for which they were entitled to traffick freely to the Euxine
Sea, and other parts of the foltan's dominions ".
In 884, Mohammed furnifhed Alao'ddin Beg with an ar- I^ejra 884,
my ; by whofe afllftance he vanquilhed his father Badag ^^''^^^ ^
Beg, and obliged him to fly to Cherkaffi, king of Mefr. '
Next year, he equipped a great fleet, under Ghiedik
Ahmed Pafha, to lay wafte Italy. But this general, after
u Ricaut, ubi fupra.
Mod. Vol. IX. H h having
4^6 Hi/lory of the
having ravaged Apulia, and taking fome fortrefles, was in
the midft of his progrefs recalled, on account of the new
attempts of Uzun HafTan. He was foon followed by a Ve-
netian ambalTador, who humbly fued for peace j which the
Hejra 886. foltan at that junfture readily granted : but it was not laft^
A.D.i4^i- ing; for, in 886, Mefih Pallia was fent with a great fleet
' '■ to fubdue Rhodes ; yet was forced to raife the fiege, with
great lofs and difhonour w.
A.D. hSi. The foltan was urged to this fiege of Rhodes by Anto^-
~ niusMeligalus,a fugitive knight J who, failing fick by the way,
^lee!/^'^ was thrown overboard by the Turks, and drowned. The
* '* Oihman army, confiiling of eighty thoufand men, con-
du61:ed by iJemetrius, another treacherous knight of
Rhodes, landed the 2 2d of June. The bafha, after hav-
ing battered tlie walls for fome time, made a breach; but
Peter P'Amboife, the grand-mafler, raifed fuch works
before it, that Mesili would not venture to give the afr-
fault. However, a report being fpread, that Mohammed was
coming with a hundred thoufand men, and ^ hundred and
fifty pieces of cannon, it much terrified the bcfieged, efpe-
cially the Spaniards. At the fame time a plot was difcover-
ed, to poifon the grand-mailer, fet on foot by the baflia;
who, having made a bridge over a narrow arm of the
fea, in qrder to batter St. Nicholas's towers, Gervaife
w Rogers, an Englifliman, found means in the night to cut
*' the cables, and break it. Plowever, a new bridge being
made, the tower was battered for a while both by fea and
land, till that bridge aifo was broken by the cannon of the
place.
the fiege The bafha then tempted the grand-mafter with great
r<?(/^«» promifes to furrender the city •, but finding he could nqt
prevail v^'ith him either to do that or pay tribute, he re-
newed his batteries with double fury ; and a large breaclj
b^ing made, the Turks advanced to the aflault, but were
gallantly repulfed, while five hundred of thofe who had
fcaled the v/alls in another place, were (lain. The whole
lofs amounted to about five thoufand men. The grands
m after received four woi^nds in the attack. The baflia,
(Jifcouraged by his ill fuccefs, and the rumour that the
Chriftian princes were coming to the relief of Rhodes,
raifed the l^ege, and left the illand on the 17th of Au-
V C^nt. p. 11^, & feqcj.
Mohamme
Othmdn Empire. 467
Mohammed, hoping that if he failed in one place he jialy in-
-would fucceed in another, embarked a great army at Val- 'vadeci*
lona, or Aulona, a maritime town on the borders of Ma^
cedonia, under the command of Gheduk Ahmed, with de- >
fign to get footing in Italy. The bafha landed in Apulia,
near Otranto, and after ravaging the coaft, took the city ; Otranto
which being the key of that part of Italy, he caufed to be taken.
ftrongly fortified, and victualled for eighteen months.
Then he failed back to Conitantinople, with an intention to
return in the fpring, and profecute his defigns; but,'
luckily for Italy, he was diverted by the troubles raifed in
Afia\
That fummer the foltan aflembled all the forces of the Moham-^
Othman empire; and, paffing the Bofphorus, near Yuz- fneddieSf
kinder, pitched his tent under Maltepe, with a view to
fruftrate the defigns of Uzun Haflan ; but being in this
place attacked by a violent fit of the gout, accompanied
with other diforders, he died in a few days, leaving the
empire to his fon Ba-yezid.
Mohammed lived fifty-one years, and reigned thirty,
2nd three months, exclufive of the time he ruled in his
father's life^time,
Befides his warlike virtues, of which he gave eminent His cha-
proofs, he was famous for learning, wifdom, and a thrift ra^er,
after knowlege, for his proficiency in languages, and pa-
tience in labours. He was alfo religious ; in fhort, an ac-
complilhed prince, if he had been lefs cruel, and a more
fcrupulous obferver of good faith,
According to the Chriflian writers, he had nothing In Andperfoni
his outward appearance anfwerable to the greatnefs of his
mind. He was low of ftature, and fquare fet ; large
limbed, and of great ftrength, His complexion was fal-
low and melancholy, his looks were flern, his eyes a lit*
tie funk in his head, yet piercing ; his nofe fo high and
crooked that It almofl touched his upper lip (U). He had
very acute parts ; was fkilled in the Turkifh learning,
^fpeclally ail ronomy ; and could fpeak Greek, Latin,
Arabic, Chaldee, and Perfic. He dehghted much in hif-t
^ Ricaut, ubi fupra.
(U) His nofe Is not repre- Gentil Bellin from Venice, to
fented fo much hooked in his draw his face, and nobly re-
pidure ^ given ^ us by prince warded him.
^antemir. This foltan fentfor
rpry V
468 Hiftory of the Othmdn Empire.
tory; was very courageous, and fortunate. He punlih-
ed theft and all forts of injuflice with great feverity. He
had a great efteem for men who excelled in any art or
fcience. But to balance thefe virtues, they fay, that he
had no regard for religion, or his treaties ; was very am-
bitious, and a great diflembler ; that he delighted in
bloody and that his leaft difpleafure was attended with
deaths
y Cant. p. 115.3
END OF THE NINTH VOLUME.
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