'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎24] (979/1024)

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ther was his prefence fo neceffary at Japon, where he had fettl’d the
Dutch Trade in as good a condition as it could well be. And in truth,
the Hollanders had then almoft the whole Trade of the Eajl-indies.
They had taken from Bi/ghjh, Forme ft, Ambojna, mAVooleron, and
by that means engrofs’d all the Trade of Cloves, Mace, andNutmegs.
They had taken Baton by furprizc. The Inhabitants of the Celebes,
Ternate, and Tidor, were become their Vaffals-, and the King of Ma-
caffar having made an Alliance with them, had ejipdi’d the ivrtqgsstfes
out of his Dominions. By means of their Faftories in Sumatra they
had got all the Pepper Trade of the Weftern Coaft of that Wand into
their hands, befidesfeveral other advantages which they had in feveral
other places, where they had encroach’d upon the Portugds, Spaniards,
and the Engkjb themfelves. The -India Company at that time enter
tain’d 140*Ships, part Men of War , and part Merchant-men, pro
vided with great Guns , Ammunition, and Provifionof all forts, and
in thefe Ships above 6000 Men , part Souldiers, part Mariners. Bata
via was the Soul of their Conquefts,made upon the Ruins of theP^r^-
otiefes, which had they lain ail together, would have made a large
Empire, and by which they might have grown infinitely rich, had
not the expences of their Navies and Souldiers eaten out the gains of
their vaft Trade. One of their wifeft Generals told me frequently,
m have, faidhe, hut too many Fortrejfes, we need m more then the Cape
of Good Hope, and Batavia, Fatt one swell fettl'd, good Ships, andhonejl
Men to ferve ws. For in fhort, their Officers pillage unmercifully,and
caufe the Commerce and Dominion of their Country-men to be detefted
by the Indians, through their Covetoufnefl and Cruelty.
I know my felf,that in the year 1664, the Expences of the Hollanders
in the Fall-Indies amounted, commmihus annis, to twelve Millions a year,
not to reckon Shipwracks, decay of Ships, and waft of Goods, and
yet their Cargo’s for Afia and Europe have not amounted to above ten
Millions *, and fometimes the Cargo’s are fo mean, that the Receits do
not anfwer the Expences. Neverthelefs their perfeverance and courage
were worthy of admiration. For what could be more to be admir’d ,
then to fee that a final! number of Merchants, affembled at firft upon
thefinglefcoreof Trade, fhould afterwards prefume to make War in
Regions fo far diftant, aflail fo many Princes and Nations, plant fo
many Colonies, befiege fo many Cities and Forts, and laftly, let forth
fo many Navies at fuch prodigious Expences, that it would put many
potent Soveraigns to a plunge to do as they did if
This was the Eftate of the HollandEaJLjndi a Company, atwhattime
thePrefident, the principal Subjed of this Relation , was recall’d from
Japon to Batavia, there to take upon him the Office of Chief Fnrettor.
He carry’d thither great ftore of Wealth, and built feveral magnificent
Houles in the City. His Authority alfo was very large v but he exer
cis’d it according to his ufual cuftom, and was hated by all the Officers
of the Company , and the Citizens themfelves. He thought himfelf
fecure of the Employment of General, but he was deceiv’d in his hopes;
upon which he took pet, and return’d for Amjfardam, where he livd
quietly for fome years. At length his turbulent and ambitious Spirit put
him upon new Defigns, to revenge the injury which bethought he had
receiv’d. To which purpofe he return’d to the Indies. His undertaking
was not fo profperous for thofe that employ d him , and who merited to
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