Clove : Journal
IOR/L/MAR/A/XIV
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The record is made up of 1 volume (145 folios). It was created in 3 Apr 1611-17 Nov 1613. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
About this record
- Content
Journal of the voyage of the East India Company ship Clove from England to Bantam [Banten] and Japan (Captain John Saris, Master James Foster), 1611-13 (dates given are for arrival unless otherwise indicated): left the Downes [Downs], 18 April 1611; 1 August 1611, Soldania [Saldanha Bay, Cape of Good Hope]; 17 February 1611 [Old Style]/17 February 1612 [New Style], Socotora [Socotra]; 16 March 1611 [Old Style]/16 March 1612 [New Style], Moha [Mocha]; 24 October 1612, Bantam; 15 January 1612 [Old Style]/15 January 1613 [New Style], left Bantam; 24 February 1612 [Old Style]/24 February 1613 [New Style], Bachan [Bacan]; 12 June 1613, Ferando [Hirado]. [The Clove left Hirado on 5 December 1613, and returned to England towards the end of 1614.]
The journal contains daily entries, dated in the left hand margin.
The journal records: navigational information; winds; weather; sea conditions; the provisioning of the ship; sightings of other vessels; commodities carried; deaths of crew members; and general remarks.
The journal provides a detailed account of John Saris's trading activities in Japan in 1613. The entries include a transcript of a letter from the Emperor of Japan to the King of Great Britain [King James I] (folio 143), and 'The Coppie verbat[im] of the Emperor of Japan his privilages [privileges], Granted in the name of the Right honnored [Honoured] Knight Sir Thomas Smith, Governor of the East Indya Companye, for the vse [use] of the 8 voyage And obteyned [obtained] by me, Jo. [John] Saris' (folios 143-144).
The volume also includes sketches of the coast (as seen from the sea) of Lancerot [Lanzarote], Forteventura [Fuerteventura], and Saldanha Bay (folio 20); a map of Saldanha Bay (folio 21); a sketch of the coast of St Lawrance [Madagascar], and two views of the coast between Soffala [Sofala] and Mozambique (folio 27); and a map of the coast between Sofala and Mozambique (folio 33).
The journal employs Old Style (Julian calendar) dates.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (145 folios)
- Arrangement
The entries in the journal are recorded in chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 147; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 4-144; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. This previous foliation has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English in Latin script
- Type
- Archival file
Archive information for this record
- Original held at
- British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.
- Access conditions
Unrestricted
- Archive reference
- IOR/L/MAR/A/XIV
- Date(s)
- 3 Apr 1611-17 Nov 1613 (CE, Gregorian)
- Copies
A transcription of the journal can be found in The Voyage of Captain John Saris to Japan, 1613 ,ed. by Sir Ernest M Satow (London, Hakluyt Society, 1900).
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Related search terms
- Subjects
- Ships logsMarine navigationWeatherTrade (practice)
- Places
- BantamFerando
- People & organisations
- Clove
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Clove : Journal, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MAR/A/XIV, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000001273.0x0001ad> [accessed 1 July 2026]
- Link to this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MAR/A/XIV
- Title
- Clove: Journal
- Pages
- 143r:144r
- Author
- Government of Japan, Edo period
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact [email protected] with any information you have regarding this item.
- Reference
- IOR/L/MAR/A/XIV
- Title
- Clove: Journal
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i , 2r:142v, 144v:146v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence
