1645
November
December
2 In reply to Overtwater’s reminder to them to settle their debt, the regents of the Lord of Hirado sent me a written message that they could not pay anything this year, because storms had ruined the rice crop. When it was dark I received a note from Overtwater telling me that he had not been able to sail because of contrary winds. The ship was anchored outside the bay. He was waiting for easterly or northerly winds.
3 In the morning, with the governors’ consent, I sent some fresh fish and other refreshments to the Zalm, but the Japanese guards reported that the ship had left last night. A junk from Fuzhou, which contrary winds had driven to the domain of Arima, was brought here by the lord’s men.
4 Governor Saburōzaemon informed me that I should make preparations for my journey to the Court and I could set off ahead of him, for he had not yet received orders from the Court to leave. I asked interpreter Kichibyōe, who brought me the message, if it was not advisable to wait till His Honour had received his orders, for he is the principal person whom we address at Court. Kichibyōe agreed, but he thought it better to ask the governor.
18 Governor Saburōzaemon notified me that he still had not received orders to travel to Edo and he had no idea when this would be. Thus, in order not to cause any problems for us and so that we could be in Edo before the Shōgatsu or New Year, we should prepare for the journey. I thanked him for his consideration. I hoped to be ready in a few days.
19 I sent for the cook or the person who prepares the sakana for the bongiois and the interpreters to order everything needed for the journey. I also sent for workmen to start packing the luggage and the gifts.
20 Governor Saburōzaemon has received orders from the Court to travel to Edo. I sent the interpreters to Governor Gonpachirō’s bongiois, who has been ordered to escort us to Edo, to ask when we should be ready to leave. He let me know that it would be on the 10th of the 11th moon – this year has thirteen moons – which is the 27th.
24 Governor Saburōzaemon has departed.
25 I sent the interpreters to the bongiois to ask if we should embark on the 27th as stated. He postponed it till the 14th.
30 I took my leave from Governor Gonpachirō.
Court journey
31 I have departed from Nagasaki with six Dutchmen. As usual we are being escorted by a bongiois or nobleman of Governor Gonpachirō, who is the head, two junior bongioisen on behalf of the town, and an interpreter, with their servants. We had to anchor outside the bay because of contrary wind.
1646
January
6 We sailed, but because the wind veered against us, we had to return. We dropped anchor in the bay of Azuchi Ōshima, about 1½ miles west of the bay of Tasuke, an island belonging to the Lords of Hirado.
7 We left the bay and in the afternoon we reached the bay of Yobuko, about seven miles away.
17 Because of contrary winds we had to remain at Yobuko for ten days. In the afternoon we passed Shimonoseki, in the evening we had to drop anchor because of a counter-current.
24 After having had stiff westerly winds since the 17th, we reached the merchant city of Osaka. We took up lodgings with Terroijemon, who is our customary landlord. He announced our arrival to the governors and requested an audience for me. They replied that tomorrow morning would suit them. I learnt that eight days after our departure from Nagasaki, a Chinese junk had arrived, loaded with 250 to 300 piculs of raw silk. It carried almost no other commodities. The news was sent with express overland mail and the price for silk has already dropped by 30 per cent. The price for the commodities the Company has sold lately has dropped by 5 per cent.
25 I went to present the annual gifts to Kugai Inaba-no-kami, Governor of Osaka Castle. He accepted them courteously. The governor of the city, Soga Tanba-no-kami, has left for Edo, but his secretary accepted the gifts and promised to write to his master in Edo. The gifts consist of [list of piece-goods].
26 I have exchanged some silver for gold. The horses and the luggage are ready for our departure tomorrow. I have handed some small items that I had brought for the King of Kinokuni, the Shogun’s uncle, to his major-domo, because the King was in his domain, about one-and-a-half days’ travel from Osaka. This will save us a lot of expense and trouble, because otherwise we would have had to carry them all the way to Edo. [List of the items: two shields, two grenades, a compass, a jar with elephant fat, a case with an elephant’s liver, a box with a rhinoceros’ liver, two young dogs.1]
27 We left Osaka with thirty-nine horses. In the evening, we reached Miyako. I asked the interpreter to request the governor for the pass as soon as possible.
28 The interpreter and our landlord Saburōemon went to the governor’s residence to announce the arrival of the Dutch and to request the pass for Edo. They were given the pass. We left Miyako and arrived in Kusatsu in the evening. On behalf of the King of Kinokuni, a certain merchant from Osaka brought me two barrels of sake, or Japanese strong liquor, as a token that the King had received the things which had been sent to him from Osaka in good order and was pleased with them. He would remunerate us on our return, the sake was merely sent for our consumption during the cold journey.
February
Arrival in Edo
7 We arrived in Edo. Interpreter Hachizaemon went straight to Chikugo-no-kami, who is responsible for all Company affairs, and Saburōzaemon, Governor of Nagasaki, to announce our arrival. They were not at home, the Shogun having organized a feast in one of his cha or pleasure houses outside the city, because his eldest son had recovered from a fever and these gentlemen were among the guests.
Their secretaries will inform their masters of our arrival.
9 I would have liked to prevail upon the interpreter to request Chikugo-no-kami for a hearing to show him the gifts, to thank him for the release of the ten Dutchmen who had been imprisoned in Nanbu, and to introduce myself to him, but the interpreter did not think this appropriate and said I had to wait till I was summoned.
10 I sent the interpreter to Governor Saburōzaemon and Chikugo-no-kami to remind them to look after our affairs. Saburōzaemon promised to do so and ordered the interpreter to request an audience with Chikugo-no-kami. The interpreter communicated this request to Chikugo-no-kami, who replied that he was busy because of the Shōgatsu, but when he had time to spare, he would send for the captain.
12 Chikugo-no-kami notified me that I have to appear before the Shogun and present the gifts tomorrow. He ordered me to come to his residence in the evening. Shortly after, Governor Saburōzaemon sent the same message, but not as definite.
Question: ‘Had the release of the Dutchmen who had been imprisoned in Nanbu two years ago been reported to the Governor-General?’
Reply: ‘Yes, it had.’
Question: ‘Had their release been appreciated, for these men had violated the Japanese laws by shooting and committing other violations and had deserved the death penalty?’
Reply: ‘The Governor-General and the Dutch nation highly appreciated their release, as much as if the ten Dutchmen had already died and had been given their lives again. It would always be remembered and we would be eternally grateful, in particular for the great favour the Shogun displayed to the Dutch nation.’
Question: ‘Had Elseracq reported to the Governor-General in person and had he left for Holland to report on the prisoners from Nanbu and would he return here?’
Reply: ‘I was certain that Elseracq had spoken to the Governor-General in person, but I did not know if he had left for the Netherlands or if he would return here, because I had been in Siam at the time, from where the Governor-General had sent for me. I had arrived in Batavia twenty-five days after his death. The Council of the Indies had sent me here to pay homage to the Shogun and the nobles and to thank them for the release of the Nanbu prisoners.’
His Excellency also intimated that I might well appear before the Shogun tomorrow. I took my leave and His Excellency ordered the interpreter to inform Governor Saburōzaemon of my replies.
Audience
13 Around nine o’clock in the morning, I was summoned to the Court to appear before His Majesty in person. I went there with my company. At the palace, we were taken to a hall where we had to wait a long time. In two days it will be Shōgatsu, or New Year, which is the major holiday for the Japanese and all the nobles gather to congratulate His Majesty. Some of the greater nobles came to look at me and some also addressed me, in particular Kuze Yamato-no-kami, who has the prerogative of addressing the Shogun and communicating with His Majesty. He has undoubtedly been ordered to inquire after the reason for my coming. Governor Saburōzaemon escorted him to us and he asked me the following questions:
Question: ‘Had Elseracq gone to Holland? Had he spoken to the Governor-General before his departure and had he reported on the release of the imprisoned Dutchmen from Nanbu?’
Reply: ‘Elseracq had gone to Holland, he had spoken to the Governor-General and without doubt he had reported to him on the importance of the release of the imprisoned Dutchmen.’
Question: ‘Had Elseracq gone to Holland to report on the release of the Nanbu prisoners and will he return, for he has promised to come and thank the Shogun and the government here?’
Reply: ‘This was unknown to me.’ I gave the same reply as yesterday.
Question: ‘Was the release of the prisoners highly valued?’
Reply: I also gave the same reply as I had given Chikugo-no-kami.
Question: ‘Had a new Governor-General been elected?’
Question: ‘Who was in charge of the government?’
Reply: ‘The Councillors of the Indies.’
Question: ‘Who were they?’
Reply: ‘The principal officials next to the Governor-General, who govern the Dutch Indies together with the Governor-General.’
Question: ‘How far was Holland from Batavia and how long did it take to sail from Batavia to Holland?’
Reply: ‘About 4000 miles and with favourable winds one could reach there in six or seven months, but with contrary winds and setbacks, it could take, ten, twelve, or fourteen months.’
Question: ‘Had any land, ships, or people been taken from the Castilians this year?’
Reply: ‘In the Indies, a ship had been seized off the coast of Manila and some others had been destroyed. In the Netherlands, the Prince of Orange had captured a strong fortress or castle and the King of France had taken a city from the Spanish king, both in the province of Flanders.’
Question: ‘Did I know of a Portuguese ambassador having been sent to Japan?’
Reply: ‘Yes, but we greatly doubted that he would dare sail hither.’
This was all written down and then Kuze Yamato-no-kami and Saburōzaemon left. Other nobles came to see us: Makino Sado-no-kami, son of Councillor Takumi-no-kami, who also asked me many questions similar to the previous ones. I gave the same replies. I harboured the suspicion that he was testing me. Then it was time to appear before the Shogun. Governor Saburōzaemon escorted me inside and I had to wait in a certain wooden gallery.
‘The Dutch and the Portuguese have always been enemies. The Shogun has been well informed of this. Thus he is favourably disposed towards the Dutch and he has granted them free trade with Japan. Therefore the Dutch are obliged to comply with the Shogun’s orders and they are not to have any commercial doings or any intercourse with the Portuguese or the Castilians. You should guard closely against bringing any priests or any of their followers from whatever nation on your ships to Japan, for if this happens, the Dutch will suffer the gravest consequences – meaning the death penalty. If any Spaniard, Portuguese or any other nation adhering to that sect tries to enter Japan secretly, you should advise the Japanese of this. The Dutch have been coming to Japan during the reigns of three ancestors of the present Shogun and therefore the Shogun has granted the captain the favour of coming into his presence. If the Shogun’s orders are obeyed, no change will occur, but everything will continue to run smoothly.
I replied reverently that I would comply with the Shogun’s orders and would always do my best to be of service to the Japanese empire.
14 I went to present the gifts for the four senior councillors. They were at Court and their secretaries accepted the gifts on their behalf.
15 While I was on my way to present gifts to some other councillors, I was summoned to Court to receive the Shogun’s reciprocal present. Governor Saburōzaemon escorted me to the place where I had delivered the gifts to the representatives of the Prince. On behalf of the Shogun, twenty silk gowns were presented to me and likewise twenty silk gowns on behalf of the Prince. I accepted them with bowed head and profuse expressions of gratitude. This is a special honour, because on all other occasions the gowns were sent to our lodgings.
16 I presented gifts to other officials. I went to Chikugo-no-kami to thank him for his assistance in obtaining a speedy audience. I also requested his assistance with the following points:
That the Company be allowed the export of copper. That the start of trade be allowed on the arrival of the ships, the sale of the raw silk being left till the settlement of the pancado, so that the Japanese merchants not suffer any loss and the Company would be accommodated, for the pancado is settled very late every year and the sales cannot be conducted in an orderly fashion and be finished by the time the ships have to depart.
17 I went to Saburōzaemon to thank him for his assistance in all matters. I ordered the interpreter to request him to assist us in obtaining the export of copper, permission to trade before the settlement of the pancado, and more freedom for the senior Company servants. His Honour replied that it was not in his power to grant this, but it was at the discretion of the Shogun and the government. After the Shōgatsu, he would present his report on his administration in Nagasaki and he would take this into consideration.
21 Because I have not been told that I can depart, I sent the interpreter to Chikugo-no-kami and to Saburōzaemon. He returned with the terse reply of ‘Yagate’, which means ‘very soon’. I asked him what he thought was the reason for this delay, for usually the delivery of the Shogun’s gowns means that we may leave. He thought the display of gratitude for the release of the Nanbu prisoners had not been impressive enough, for in a case of such great importance it was usual that, apart from the ordinary reverence and gifts, a special envoy be sent. It may be that special consultations were being carried out.
27 I again sent the interpreter to Chikugo-no-kami and Saburōzaemon to request leave to depart.
March
2, 5 I sent the interpreter to Chikugo-no-kami and Saburōzaemon to request leave to depart. Their reply was that we should not worry, and so forth.
6 Chikugo-no-kami returned all the rarities I had brought for him: burning-glasses, magnifying glasses, camera obscura lenses, and other things. According to the interpreter he was not pleased with them.
7 Late in the evening, Chikugo-no-kami notified the interpreter that he should come to him early the next morning. I hope the reason is that we shall be given leave to depart.
8 The interpreter went to Chikugo-no-kami’s residence. He was ordered to inquire whether there was someone among the Dutch who could make fireworks and gun carriages. There was no mention of our departure. In the afternoon, Saburōzaemon notified me that I should go to Chikugo-no-kami’s residence. I went there with Junior Merchant Jan de Groot. After waiting a while, Chikugo-no-kami and Saburōzaemon returned from Court and sent for us. They told us that we should comply with the Shogun’s orders, in particular the one concerning Christianity. In substance, the same as I had been ordered by the councillors on the 13th of last month. They added that the Shogun was more antagonistic towards Christianity than ever before; also that too little value had been placed upon and not enough gratitude had been shown for such a great matter as the release of the Dutch from Nanbu, who had violated the Japanese laws and had deserved the death penalty, which would have been a dishonour to the Dutch, but who had been granted their lives by the Shogun out of pure benevolence.
9 Although we had taken leave of him at Chikugo-no-kami’s residence, I went to thank Governor Saburōzaemon for all the help he has given us during our stay in Edo. I also reminded him of my requests, but he repeated that the granting of those was not in his power, but was at the discretion of the government. I also went to Governor Gonpachirō’s residence to take leave of his son. He was not in because he had guard duty at the palace.
Departure from Edo
10 We departed from Edo.
22 We arrived in Miyako. On our way we had to stay in Akasaka because of the continuous rain.
23 We left Miyako and travelled to Osaka via Fushimi.
25 The attendants of the King of Kinokuni came to visit us and gave us thirty schuiten of silver as a present for the small items we sent him on our way to Edo. He asked for other rarities and medicines next year.
26 We embarked for our journey to Nagasaki.
April
1 We had to remain moored in the river of Osaka for six full days because of the rain and contrary wind before we could set sail.
Arrival in Nagasaki
13 We arrived in Nagasaki. The interpreters came to welcome us with the good news that two days ago it had been announced in Nagasaki that the export of copper had been allowed. However, nothing had been heard about our other requests. China was still at war with the Tartar and he had captured Nanking. Only one junk had arrived from China with raw silk, of which mention was made in Osaka on our journey to Edo on 26 January.
Nine from Fuzhou, whose cargoes consisted mainly of 34 piculs of white raw silk, piece-goods, powdered sugar, alum, sappanwood, wax, Chinese medicines, and other merchandise, worth in all 63,400 taels. One from Nanking with 250 piculs of white raw silk, piece-goods, medicines, etc., worth 79,000 taels. One from Quanzhou, equipped by Iquan, with piece-goods, worth 25,000 taels.
15 A Chinese junk arrived from Fuzhou with 250 piculs of white powdered sugar, hemp cloth, piece-goods, Chinese books, and medicines, worth 9000 taels.
17 I went to pay my respects to Governor Gonpachirō and to thank him for his recommendations. He was very pleased that I had paid homage to the Shogun in person and he would continue his favour towards us.
20 Two Chinese junks arrived from Fuzhou with 10 piculs of white raw silk, piece-goods, hemp cloth, powdered sugar, alum, coarse porcelain, and Chinese merchandise, worth 24,800 taels.
22 Two Chinese junks arrived from Quanzhou with powdered sugar, alum, hemp cloth, some piece-goods, worth 3200 taels.
30 A junk arrived from Fuzhou with powdered sugar, 2 piculs of white raw silk, piece-goods, hemp cloth, a batch of tea jars, Chinese medicines, worth about 5400 taels.
May
10 The interpreters told me that a vessel had stranded off one of the Ryūkyū Islands, the outermost islands of Satsuma. There was no one on board, but some papist clothing had been found, a gown, a pair of mules, four jars of conserves, and a rosary.
15 The aforesaid vessel has been brought into port and handed over to the Governor of Nagasaki. But no papist goods or any sign of them has been found.
June
2 The interpreters told me that the Japanese man with whom I contracted to salvage the pieces of ordnance has brought up two pieces, but he wishes to terminate the contract because the costs are exceeding his earnings by far.
8 A Nanking junk, which had arrived here last year, has departed. The governor had ordered it to leave several times, but because of the war against the Tartar, who is devastating the country, it had been excused. Three more are to leave shortly. I have been told that the principal merchants are remaining here with most of the money. They are paying the ones who depart 10 per cent to find out the state of Nanking. Then they will return. Some intend not to return to Nanking, but to go to Quanzhou, Fuzhou or other Chinese places.
10 I have struck another agreement with the Japanese man to salvage the pieces of ordnance. I promised him 20 taels for each piece. He has accepted on the condition that he will be paid as soon as he salvages a piece.
12 Three Nanking junks have left, which leaves two here.
16 In the evening, with strong south-westerly winds, four Nanking junks came sailing into the bay. I think they are the same as the ones which lately departed.
23 A second Chinese junk arrived from Nanking, with the following cargo. [List: white raw silk, piece-goods, medicines, small stuff, worth 106,000 taels.]
July
26 The governor sent the interpreters to inform me that the guards had notified him that a Dutch ship had been spotted out at sea. With the governor’s permission I sent Junior Merchant Jan de Groot with a letter for the ship’s authorities to warn them against carrying papist ornaments on board. If any were found, they should be got rid off unobtrusively. When it turned dark, I saw and heard some shots being fired, which confirmed the arrival of the ship, but it turned out to be a Chinese junk. However, when De Groot returned, he said that a Japanese barge had confirmed that a ship had been spotted.
27 The junk which arrived yesterday had sailed from Cambodia via Cochin China and its cargo was worth about 17,000 taels. [List of goods: deerskins, buffalo-horns, hides, black lacquer, rhinoceros horns, elephant’s teeth, pepper, wax, rattan, medicines.] I was told that the ship had dropped anchor five or six miles off Seto, part of the domain of Arima. I sent De Groot again but because of the showers he had to return. I learnt that last night express mail had arrived from Edo with letters and orders for the governor stating that the last two Chinese junks from Nanking were refused permission to trade here and they will have to leave with their goods.
Arrival of the Gouden Gans
28 The interpreters handed me a note from Master Willem Pietersz Dogh and Bookkeeper Gillis Foppen, from which I learnt that the flute the Gouden Gans, sailing from Tayouan, had stranded about three miles north and the ship had dropped anchor there on the 26th. Guards had been placed on her. However, they could not understand each other and the contrary wind prevented the ship from sailing to the bay. I immediately sent orders about how they should behave towards the Japanese guards. In the evening, the ship sailed into the bay with a westerly wind. With the governor’s permission I went on board the same evening to fetch the papers. With regret I learnt from Governor Francois Caron’s letters of the deplorable state of commodities from China, so that he could only send a cargo worth 87,562 guilders, consisting mainly of powdered sugar, hemp cloth, little Persian and Chinese silk, silk piece-goods, and a batch of deerskins. On the departure of this ship, no ships from Batavia had yet arrived in Tayouan. The main reason for sending this ship was to anticipate the large supplies of sugar the Chinese intended to export to Japan this year, which would spoil the market.
29 I went on board to muster the crew. We have started to unload the ship. A Chinese junk arrived from Fuzhou with some silk, powdered sugar, hemp cloth, silk piece-goods, red rugs, medicines, and small goods, worth 30,000 taels.
30 Rainy weather, which caused me to request that the unloading of the sugar be ceased. However, the bongioisen went ahead, and we covered the sugar with mats as best as we could to prevent great spoilage.
August
1 A small junk arrived from Quanzhou with candy sugar, powdered sugar, alum, raw silk, velvet, and porcelain, worth about 3400 taels.
5 On the advice of the interpreters, I sent a letter by express mail to the Lord of Hirado, requesting payment of his debt, if not in full at least in part.
6 A junk arrived from Nanking via Fuzhou. [List: raw silk, piece-goods, sugar, and alum.]
Arrival of the Koning van Polen and the Berkhout
13 Two ships have been spotted. I sent Junior Merchant De Groot and Master Willem Dogh. At dusk we could see the ships sail around the bend of the bay. Halfway down the bay they were forced to drop anchor. De Groot and Dogh reported that they were the flutes the Koning van Polen and the Berkhout, hailing from Siam. According to Merchant Jan van Muijden’s letter and bill of lading, the cargoes total 42,021 guilders and consist of deerskins, sappanwood, rayskins, black lacquer, some eagle-wood, buffalo-horns. Senior Merchant Moerdijck, opperhoofd of the Siam factory, had been poisoned by a black cook and he had died on 23 January. Van Muijden had been appointed chief by the Council of the Indies. The purchase of commodities went fairly well, but sales were bad.
14 The ships have dropped anchor in front of Tsukishima, the Company’s residence.
15–17 Both ships have been unloaded without any problems. I received a letter from the regents of Hirado in reply to my letter of the 5th. Their letter states that the lord is short of funds, implying that he who does not have cannot give.
18 A junk arrived from Cambodia, loaded with hides, deerskins, pepper, sappanwood, buffalo- horns, nux vomica, and rayskins. Another one arrived from Quinam with cowhides, piece-goods, honey, black sugar, boreh-boreh, radix China, buffalo-horns, Chinese stuff.
19 After the interpreters had several times urged the Japanese who had contracted for the salvage of the pieces of ordnance from the Leeuwerik to exert more effort to accomplish his task, he finally let me know that he was not able to salvage any more, so that only four of the eight have been salvaged.
22 A junk arrived from Canton with radix China, powdered sugar, iron cooking pots, honey, namrak, eagle-wood, etc.
27 The governor asked if I should like to send someone again to the ship to show the way in case the master was not familiar with the harbour. Although I did not care to send someone, I did not want to refuse this courtesy to prevent future refusals to my requests. But, like yesterday, they had to return without boarding the ship.
28 Jan de Groot went to the ship for the third time. In the afternoon we could see the ship turn around the bend of the bay. Shortly after, De Groot reported that the ship, the flute the Zalm, sailing from Batavia via Tayouan, carried my successor Wilhem Versteeghen. The letters from the Council of the Indies informed me that the Portuguese intended to send an embassy from Goa to Japan to request resumption of their trade. On the orders of the Council of the Indies, I had the interpreters inform the governor of this. The cargo of the ship consists mainly of piece-goods from Coromandel, rarities from Europe to be used as gifts, hemp cloth, powdered sugar, some deerskins and other small things from Tayouan, worth in all 120,088 guilders. Until the 9th of this month, there had been no improvement in the trade in Chinese goods nor had there been any rich imports from China. Four Chinese junks have arrived from Fuzhou with raw silk, powdered sugar, piece-goods, hemp cloth, alum, candy sugar, medicines, and Chinese trifles.
September
2 We have shown the governor some of the rarities we intend presenting to the Shogun and the councillors. According to the interpreters’ report, he deemed them suitable for this purpose. Last year the Council of the Indies had advised us of the Ten Years Truce with the Portuguese and Overtwater had ordered the interpreters to notify the governors of this. But it turned out that they had not done so and had kept quiet about it. Thus Versteeghen and I summoned the interpreters and confronted them with the fact that it would create grave difficulties to keep news of the truce with the Company’s enemies from the governors. Therefore we intended to make this known to the governors ourselves. However, after many discussions the interpreters refused to relinquish their doubts, explaining that now an ambassador was coming with two galleons – as rumour had it – this could only lead to the unpleasant suspicions that he had sailed here with our council’s approval. The more so because Elseracq had declared to the government here that we were embroiled in a war with the Portuguese more bitter than ever before. We riposted that some subjects had committed hostile acts on both sides, but this had been without the knowledge of the governments. Therefore, the shrewd and intelligent Japanese had no cause to suspect anything of a dubious nature, the more so because our government had concluded the truce with the Portuguese solely for their own advantage, namely to relieve the war effort against the Spaniards, which has already been the experience in our country. Moreover, if we, who are merchants and indeed the enemies of the Portuguese, help them to achieve credit here again, we would deprive ourselves of the profits, which are modest at present, going against the nature of merchants. These seemed strong arguments, but they did not think that the government would accept them. Thus we could not take a decision and thought it best to think it over.
Arrival of the Hillegersberg, Zwarte Beer , and Zeerob
5 Three junks arrived from Zhangzhou with sugar, piece-goods, medicines, alum, paper, books, and Chinese trifles.
7 The three ships have been unloaded. I urged the interpreters to notify the governor of the truce with the Portuguese, for I could not think of a better way than one straight and to the point. I also ordered them to request the governor that the pancado be settled and that trade be permitted to start, for the commodities consist of little silk and few silk piece-goods, but mainly of coarse wares. We also request the export of 200 lasten of rice and a quantity of 3, 4, 5, or even 6 thousand piculs of copper, according to the price. On their return they reported that the governor considered the request for the opening of trade to be fair and he would order the heads of the cities to settle business.
‘To Governor Yamazaki Gonpachirō. Five years ago, our government concluded a truce with the King of Portugal at his request for a period of ten years. This had been concluded by the Dutch government for the purpose of relieving the war effort against the Spaniards, but in no way out of affection for the Portuguese and Spaniards, mainly because they are of one religion and followers of the Pope. Therefore we are enemies at heart and will remain so. In spite of the truce, hostilities have arisen between both sides in the outer regions, so that on the one side hostilities have been settled and on the other side they have flared up again.’
The interpreters showed the document to Governor Gonpachirō, but they thought it inadvisable to say that the Portuguese truce had been concluded with the Dutch nation and that hostilities had arisen only between their subjects. Instead it should be formulated in the way Elseracq had done before to square it with what the government had been told. Thus the contents of the document have been revised by the governor as follows:
8 I sent the interpreters to Burgemeester Sakuemon to request him to order the heads of the five shogunal cities to settle the pancado of the white raw silk, so that we can start trading and the ships can leave on the appointed day. It is all the more urgent because we have imported a great quantity of sugar, alum, hemp cloth, sappanwood, and other such goods, which have to be weighed and this takes up much time.
10 The merchants from Nanking who had been refused permission to trade because they are shaven in the fashion of the Tartars have been allowed to trade freely again, but they have been ordered not to return unless as Chinese, in which case the trade with Japan will be open to them as before. I sent the interpreters to Sakuemon again to remind him to order the settlement of the pancado. I sent the interpreters to ask the governor how much rice we are allowed to export, referring to his refusal to allow us 200 lasten. The reply was 1600–1700 bales at the most.
12 Sakuemon and three other burgemeesters of Nagasaki came with the heads of the merchants to fix the price of the white raw silk. After I had treated them to tent wine, distilled waters, Persian and Japanese fruit, and other treats, we set down to business. They asked how much silk had been imported, although they knew the quantity full well, and for which price we wished to sell. I consulted the interpreters, for the quantity was small, just 25 or 26 piculs and I wished to leave it to their discretion. They did not accept this proposal, but wished to have an asking price. I started the bidding high.
Arrival of the Meerman
13 The governor sent two bongioisen to the island. They opened all the warehouses except the ones for the rayskins and the raw silk. This signalled the start of trade and we immediately brought out a good batch. We were told that a ship had been spotted close to the shore. I hoped it was the flute the Meerman. I sent Jan de Groot with the usual instructions and with the order to fire one shot when the ship turned around the bend to signal it was the Meerman. To our great delight this was the case.
14–15 We have been unloading the Meerman.
16 The commodities which will be sold have been put on display. Sakuemon came to inspect some piece-goods for the Shogun, which were set aside.
17 We have held our first sale. Many goods fetched lower prices than last year, in particular the Tonkinese silk, which sold for 50 taels per picul less.
21 Governor Saburōzaemon has arrived from Edo.
22 I sent the interpreters to greet Governor Saburōzaemon and to thank him for the favours bestowed on us in Edo. He was pleased that the ships had arrived safely and that trade was under way. He recommended that I obviate Christianity by all possible means.
23 Even before the arrival of the ships, the interpreters had negotiated on the price for copper on our behalf, because not everyone is allowed free trade. The price of 9 taels had been agreed for the fine bar-copper. Today 2000 piculs have been promised for this price.
24 The two Nanking junks, whose people are shaven in the fashion of the Tartars, have departed. Trade with Japan has been forbidden to them.
25 According to annual custom, we have presented gifts to both governors, Heizō, and four Nagasaki burgemeesters. They all treated us courteously and we were entertained in Japanese fashion, especially by the senior burgemeester, Sakuemon, who had stayed home expressly, having asked us to come early, because his many duties had never allowed him to entertain the Dutch. The third burgemeester had a friendly discourse with us, saying that we were always confined to the island, but if we should like to visit the town we could do so now. So we walked through several streets with the interpreters who accompanied us.
28 Several samples of the inferior copper have been melted and we found some to yield a loss of 8 or 9 per cent, others yielded very little loss, just 2 or 3 per cent. Thus we tried to settle the price according to the quality, but they would not agree to this. Thus we have refused to accept any copper.
October
1 A south-easterly and southerly storm blew up, causing the ships to snap their anchors. Both the Berkhout and the Zwarte Beer snapped one of their ropes. The Nagasaki burgemeesters came onto the island to restore order, the landlords put props against the fence around the island. If they had not done so, it might have collapsed like last year, although the wind was not as strong.
3 After Bookkeeper Gillis Foppen had weighed and delivered a batch of sugar from one warehouse and had started to weigh the sugar kept in another warehouse to make up the quantity of 1000 piculs, he discovered that the sugar canasters were 20–25 catties lighter than usual. After having weighed fourteen canasters, he found that the balance had been enlarged. He took the interpreters to task about this and asked them to notify the governors about this fraud. Every day as we deliver the merchandise we are being pestered with complaints that they have not been able to inspect the goods properly and furthermore, while the goods are being inspected or delivered, rampant thieving is the order of the day. The governors should be informed about this and it should be prevented as much as possible. The interpreters wished to let it pass, but we intend to persist and notify the governors of this.
5 News arrived that the three Nanking junks which left lately have stranded off the Gotō Isles. One has foundered with 100 chests of silver, of which nothing could be salvaged. Twenty-five men drowned. A second has been beached. The junk has broken to pieces but the cash and the commodities are safe.
6 I sent for the interpreters and asked them what measures the governors had taken in response to our complaints, for the ships will have to depart soon and the quantity of sugar is still fairly large. If the sugar is not delivered before the day appointed for departure, the ships will not be ready to leave.
8 We have started to load the Zalm and the Berkhout.
Departure of the Zalm and the Berkhout
9 Both ships have been dispatched to Tayouan with a cargo worth 121,735 taels, consisting of silver, rice, and fifty-two Japanese silk gowns. When the ships were being dispatched, I found the bongioisen to be of an entirely different disposition, hardly allowing me time after the mustering to hand over the letters. The cause, as the interpreters tell us, is the complaints we made. This surprised me, because we have never believed the Japanese government to be pleased about any complaints about fraud or theft and to support the culprits or that it would allow the victims to be maltreated.
10 I sent for the copper merchants to see if they would lower their price. They would not accept any price lower than the one contracted for. We had to settle for 9 taels per picul because we have hardly any time left to receive it.
11 We have contracted for sheet-copper at 8 taels per picul.
12 The interpreters have spoken to Sakuemon and he has accepted their proposal. What the outcome will be, time will tell.
13 Gillis Foppen, who had weighed the sugar, was summoned by the governors. He showed them the accurate and the false balance. After he had been accused of negligence and not having guarded the balance better, which he should know blind-folded and then this dispute would not have arisen, and other such accusations, the matter was settled for this once and we were allowed to proceed with weighing the sugar. I thanked the governors for this decision, although we have enjoyed nothing but obstructions and have not had justice prevail.
14 We have received sheet-copper and bar-copper.
15 A Japanese holiday, which is strictly observed and neither merchant nor workmen will come onto the island, thus nothing could be done.3 Last night a terrible accident happened. Some crewmen were ashore and they cannot be without sake or arrack, which cannot be helped. A fight ensued, in particular, the steward of the Meerman stabbed the boatswain’s mate of the same ship, with whom he had first quarrelled.
16 Early in the morning, we had to inform the governors of this tragedy. They declared that, according to the Japanese laws, the man who was hurt should also be sentenced to death, either by them or by us. I requested that the case be investigated first and if he was found guilty according to our laws, he would be a dead man. Furthermore, no Japanese was involved in this case and we requested the governors to let our government in Batavia pass sentence in this matter. The governors could rest assured that justice would be done and the guilty punished. The interpreters brought the governors’ order that the case should be investigated and because today was a holiday, no execution would take place. I ordered Versteeghen, Brouckhorst, Bijlvelt, and two masters to investigate this tragedy. They did so and found it to be as described. Two junks arrived, one from Fuzhou and the other from Nanking. All crew were shaven. Apparently they will have to leave as they have come, because the previous one has been denied trade and no one shaven in the fashion of the Tartars is allowed to come here.
17 Another holiday and no one came onto the island and nothing could be done.
Arrival of the Overschie
19 Beyond all expectations the flute the Overschie arrived. This is a nuisance because the accounts are being settled and I am preparing to depart on the 28th. The Council of the Indies have sent the same instructions as Francois Caron to send the Meerman back to Tayouan as soon as possible. Thus instead of the Gouden Gans, the Meerman will be dispatched on the 22nd together with the Koning van Polen and the Zeerob.
20 Another holiday. We have been busy preparing the remaining cargo for the three ships and receiving copper. The interpreters went to the governors to request that, as no Japanese had been involved in the incident described on the 15th, we be allowed to send the injured man, who is still in prison, on the outward bound ship to be sentenced by our government, and that we thus retain the freedom of administration of justice over our own nationals.
21 The cargoes for the Meerman, Koning van Polen, and Zeerob have been taken on board. The interpreters brought me the governors’ decision that we were allowed for this once to send away the injured man to be punished by our government because this was the first time such an incident had occurred, but if it were to happen again in future that one man was killed, the other would also be sentenced to death, whether he be guilty or innocent, and this without regard to person, whether superior fought with inferior, even if it were someone’s servant or slave.
Departure of the Meerman, Koning van Polen , and Zeerob
23 I sent for the interpreters and told them to request the following three points from the governors: That the Company servants be allowed more freedom, in particular that the senior ones sometimes be allowed to go into the town and elsewhere; That the holds of the ships be left unsealed; That the coarse wares be sold on the arrival of the ships, because if we have to wait till the pancado is settled, it is very hard to finish business in time.
24 We have packed the bar-copper in chests. The interpreters told me that our requests of yesterday had been presented to the governors, but none had been granted, because they did not wish to introduce any innovations and it had always been done this way during the time of the Portuguese. The consent given last year to allow some Dutchmen remain was not of such great consequence and we would have to settle for that.
25 The Zwarte Beer and the Hillegersberg are taking on their cargoes. In the evening, I was handed a note from Jacob Jansen Touloop, master of the Meerman, that to this date contrary winds had prevented him from sailing. The Koning van Polen had lost an anchor at the entrance of the bay and the Zeerob had sailed.
26 The remaining copper has been taken on board the Gouden Gans. So has the cash for both ships sailing to Tonkin.
27 All three flutes have taken on provisions and other small goods. We are preparing to leave tomorrow.
The items were presented to the King of Kinokuni as gifts; they were not purchased by him. This is clear from the accounts of the gifts presented during this court journey, where it is stated that Van Tzum presented these items to the King of Kinokuni as gifts: “aen de coninck van Cunocunij verschoncken”. (NFJ 1164) The King of Kinokuni gave the VOC a return gift of 30 schuiten of silver, as mentioned on 25 March. Nobles who had received gifts customarily gave bars of silver as reciprocal gifts.
Hassaku.
The Kunchi Festival.