1647
November
Departure of the Hillegersberg
4 The flute with Versteeghen on board set sail with a favourable wind. The ship is carrying a cargo worth 125,868 guilders.
5 The gifts have been packed.
6–16 Nothing noteworthy happened. Several Chinese junks have departed. We have been making preparations for our journey to Court.
17 I sent the interpreters to the governor to inquire when we could take leave of him.
18 Junior Merchant Willem Thijmonsz and I went to the governor. I asked him for a letter to Chikugo-no-kami and Saburōzaemon in support of my request that the coarse goods be sold before the pancado is settled be granted, so that, now that the last of our ships also has to sail on the 20th of the 9th month, which is a nuisance to the Company, we obtain more leeway, even if only for the Dutchmen here. He promised me to do so and wished me a propitious journey.
Court journey
19 The goods have been loaded onto a large barge, which we have rented for the journey. I departed from Nagasaki in the company of six Dutchmen, six Japanese servants, the governor’s bongiois, and two town officials, who are also called bongioisen. At midnight we arrived in Shimokōzaki.
20 We stayed there till dawn. About nine o’clock we passed Hirado and then Tasuke. Contrary wind and rain forced us to stay here.
21 Early in the morning, we left with a westerly wind. In the evening, we arrived in Kajime-no-Ōshima.
23 In the afternoon, we rowed to Tsuwa where we stayed till midnight.
24 At nine o’clock, we arrived in Kamagari. In the evening in Yamabushi.
25 At dawn we sailed and rowed to Hibi. At midnight, at high tide, we left.
26 We stayed in Muro.
27 We passed Akashi, at nine we arrived at Wakinohama from where I sent a Japanese servant to Osaka to announce our arrival to our landlord. We rowed further.
28 At high tide we reached the river of Osaka. We sailed to our inn on small barges. The former otona of our island Tsukishima went to announce our arrival to the governor.
29 I went to pay my respects to Tanba-no-kami, who is the senior governor. I presented him with ten pieces of white pelang, five pieces of pansies, and three pieces of Tonkinese velvet. He accepted them graciously. He asked if we were still at peace with the Portuguese; how far was Batavia from Holland and from Nagasaki? I replied that we had concluded a truce with the Portuguese which would last for three more years, unless it was extended in Europe. Batavia was about 3600 miles from Holland and about 500 miles from Nagasaki. Then he gave me my leave. I also presented his secretary with two pansies. Kugai Inaba-no-kami, the second governor, was in Edo. His secretary accepted similar gifts, both for the governor and himself.
30 Our landlord in Miyako came to greet me. I handed two noblemen of the King of Kinokuni the following things which he had ordered: a beautiful large globe on an ebony stand with marbled wooden pillars;
December
1 An hour before dawn we left Osaka. About nine we stopped in Hirakata for a meal and about four o’clock we reached Miyako.
2 The interpreter went to the governors for the passes. He received one for me and my party, one for the goods, which are usually sent half a day ahead, and one for two rifles, without which it is forbidden to carry any firearms up country. We left in the afternoon. We had a meal in Ōtsu, and in Kusatsu in the evening. We spent the night there. Nothing extraordinary happened on the way.
Arrival in Edo
12 About eight in the morning, we met Kugai Inaba-no-kami, second Governor of Osaka, in the village of Katabira. I told him that I had left a small gift for him at his residence, for which he thanked me courteously. About four o’clock I arrived in the shogunal capital of Edo with my company and luggage. I sent the interpreter and our landlord’s son to Chikugo-no-kami and Saburōzaemon to announce my arrival. They extended me their welcome and asked for my name and those of my companions and what gifts I had brought. They advised me not to make the gifts as large as previously, especially for the secretary, nor should I have presentation trays ordered till they told me to do so, for they might make changes in the gifts in the Company’s interest.
13 We have unpacked the goods and sorted the gifts. I sent Chikugo-no-kami and Saburōzaemon the lists of the gifts and the names they had asked for.
14 I received notice that the gifts we intend to present to the Shogun and his son are to the liking of the aforesaid officials. Tomorrow they would let me know their decision on the gifts for the other officials.
15 Ebiya Shirōemon, our landlord in Osaka, sent me a letter of welcome and a koban for sakana.
16 Both aforesaid gentlemen ordered me to have the presentation trays made. They expect me to appear before His Majesty with the gifts on the 24th.
17 The King of Kinokuni sent 50 schuiten of silver, which is 215 taels, in payment of the objects we handed over to his servants in Osaka. He also sent me two Japanese silk gowns.
18–19 Nothing noteworthy happened.
20 Assistant Jan van Bijlen, who has a good knowledge of astronomy and geometry, was sent for by Chikugo-no-kami. He gave the secretary some instructions in these arts, but in vain. On a map of the seventeen provinces he drew the boundaries of the lands which are subject to the States of the Netherlands.
21 I sent the interpreter to Chikugo-no-kami with the oil of turpentine, sweet and bitter almonds, and the mumia.
22 Chikugo-no-kami and Saburōzaemon gave me hope that I would appear before His Majesty on the 28th of their month, which is the 24th of this month. They ordered me to decrease the gifts for each councillor by one piece of perpetuana. The others can remain unchanged.
23 We are ready to present the gifts to the Shogun and his son tomorrow.
24 We waited all morning for the summons to go to Court. Assistant Van Bijlen was first summoned to Chikugo-no-kami’s residence. Then another message came that Chikugo-no-kami wished to see me.
‘Three years ago in Batavia, had a helmsman and some crew been lent to the Portuguese ambassador who was in Nagasaki recently to help him continue his voyage?’
I replied: ‘The ambassador had not been in Batavia and therefore no people had been lent to him. At that time a certain Antonio Fialho had left Lisbon for Macao with two ships. Bad weather had driven him off course, he had lost many sailors succumbed to illness and the remaining crew could not man the ship adequately. After having drifted the seas for thirteen months, he arrived in Bantam. He sent a letter to the Governor-General asking for help, ignorant of the fact that we were at war again.
Question: ‘Why had the Dutch kept this from the Japanese?’
Reply: ‘This had not been given a second thought, because the Governor-General had not considered that such a small act of assistance given to this Portuguese, who only wanted to sail to Macao, would be of any benefit to the Japanese or that remaining silent would cause the Japanese any harm. My predecessors had not been aware of it either, because they had not been in Batavia at the time.’
Question: ‘Was the helmsman still with the Portuguese?’
Reply: ‘No, but he had sailed on one of their ships from Macao to Goa, from where he had returned to Batavia via Malacca. I had seen and spoken to him in Batavia.’
Question: ‘How far was Bantam from Batavia, where was it situated, what people lived there, and what were they called?’
Reply: ‘Bantam lies about 12–14 miles from Batavia, also in the island of Java, after which the inhabitants and their king are called. The English had a lodge there, so did the Dutch. Sometimes Danes visited there.’
These replies pleased him, because they seemed plausible to him. I would have liked to eliminate the misunderstanding among the Japanese that when the ship of the ambassador was in Nagasaki, she had been taken for the one that took Fialho to Batavia, the more so because the interpreters had said that she was called St Andreas.
25 Chikugo-no-kami had the interpreter ask me how many ships had been sent from Batavia to the Philippines last year and this and what they had achieved. I replied that last year ten ships had fought against the Castilian galleons there and had inflicted heavy losses on them, so that they had not been in a state to continue their voyage to New Spain. One of our smaller ships had been burnt. More than ten ships had been sent this year, one of which had struck the reefs off Batavia. I had no knowledge of their actions. The Chinese had been spreading the rumour in Tayouan and in Nagasaki that a castle called Cabita, close to Manila, had been captured, but this is not credible.
27 Several young gentlemen, said to be relatives of Governor Saburōzaemon, came to the inn to inspect the gifts. I treated them as best as I could. In the afternoon, many houses burnt down and in the evening Councillor Sanuki-no-kami’s. At nine o’clock there was an earthquake.
28 The interpreter told me that so much weight was still being attached to the accusation that it might well turn out that we would have to return to Nagasaki without having achieved anything. He thought I should show myself to be appalled by this and have it made known to Chikugo-no-kami and put all my faith in him and humbly request his mediation. I did so, because it is not bad to let them know occasionally that we are not without feelings for the way they treat us, but these interpreters will never convey this, for they dare not or will not translate it. But it should not be suppressed, for in time it will be spread about and the unfairness, even committed by the common man, will be checked, although it will remain substantial to the point that it is almost unbearable.
29 Chikugo-no-kami had the interpreter tell me that he would do his best on behalf of the Dutch.
30 At the request of Chikugo-no-kami, I signed three uniform documents, conform to the one submitted on the 26th.
31 The documents were returned to me, because they state that sailors had also been lent to Fialho, while I had claimed that I was not certain about that. The interpreter had inserted this on his own initiative;
1648
January
1 I prepared another statement for Chikugo-no-kami, which I am told will be conveyed to the Shogun. The contents are as follows:
‘I am distressed that in contravention of the annual custom of the Dutch opperhoofden, I shall have to leave for Nagasaki without having beheld His Majesty’s throne. The only reason for this is the lies spread by the Portuguese ambassador claiming that he has been to Batavia and that he has been given a helmsman and crew to continue his journey hither. A certain Fialho of Lisbon, on his way to Macao, arrived in Batavia accidentally. To help him in his miserable situation and to repay a similar act of generosity our people had received in Macao, he was given a pilot – on the condition that he pay him – to help him continue his voyage. This is all that has happened with regard to the Portuguese at the time that the ambassador claims to have been in Batavia, without harbouring the least suspicion that it would be taken amiss here. To confirm this to be the truth, I would even rely on our feigned friends, the Chinese – if only they were asked – and others in Batavia who also come here to trade. I was willing to remain in Edo or Nagasaki for as long as it would take to ascertain the truth of my words. If proved to be untrue, I could be punished. Our only goal was to repay the benevolence we have been enjoying since the time of the Shogun in Suruga and which we are still enjoying daily from His Majesty with good and faithful service. Every year the Dutch Prince also impresses upon the Governor-General that he should comply with the orders of His Majesty and urges us to obey him with all humility.’
2 Chikugo-no-kami had the interpreter ask me the following questions:
‘Had I been sent here by the Governor-General as captain and was I related to him? How long had I lived in Batavia and had I served as captain elsewhere? When did Fialho arrive in Batavia? How long had he stayed there and was Governor-General Van Diemen still alive then?’
We suffered an earthquake.
3 An important attendant of Chikugo-no-kami came to give me hope that I would soon be given the wished-for dispatch.
We felt another earthquake.
4 Last night another one.
Assistant Van Bijlen has again been summoned to Chikugo-no-kami’s residence to instruct his secretary in mathematics.
5–7 Nothing noteworthy happened. The residence of one of the nobles in the castle burnt down.
8 A nobleman came to visit me with many shaven-headed young and old men of Mito-dono’s family. They inspected the goods we have brought and noted our names. I treated them in this country’s fashion as best as I could.
9 Many houses have burnt down.
10 It snowed heavily last night.
11 On behalf of Chikugo-no-kami, the interpreter announced that I should have some more patience. I might be summoned to appear at Court in three days – which is the 20th of their month. I did not set much store by this, but thought it to be a silly lie made up by the interpreter, for it is rare for audiences to be held at Court but on the 1st, 15th, or 28th of their months.
12 Mito-dono asked me for timepieces and other small things just to have a look at them.
13–15 Nothing noteworthy happened.
16 I was summoned to Chikugo-no-kami’s residence. I hurried there with Junior Merchant Boucheljon. Governor Saburōzaemon was also present. After Chikugo-no-kami had expressed his sympathy for the difficulties I had to suffer during my stay here, he addressed me as follows:
17 I sent the interpreter to the aforesaid gentlemen with the request I be allowed to say goodbye to them before my departure with the intention of commending this matter to their further attention, but they politely refused and urged me to make haste with my departure, Saburōzaemon especially told me not to worry too much about what had happened.
18 We are ready to depart tomorrow. At the request of the landlord, with the bongiois’ permission, we unpacked most of the goods and sold them to his sons for cash. [List of piece-goods.] I left in the care of the landlord’s sons for next year and to prevent breakage on the way: a beautiful square mirror, five copper animals, three bergwerkjes, a barrel of tent wine, and all the presentation trays, which have not been used, but for which we paid 70 taels.
Departure from Edo
19 About eight in the morning, we left Edo. Two sons of the landlord, the ostler, and the maker of the presentation trays accompanied us to Kawasaki. We dined here and arrived in Totsuka in the evening.
29 From Ōtsu, I sent two Japanese servants with most of the luggage to Osaka via Fushimi, circumventing Miyako. Around four o’clock, we arrived in Miyako.
30 We departed in the afternoon. In the evening we left Fushimi on a small vessel and during the night we sailed down the Osaka River.
31 Before dawn we arrived in Osaka. A merchant from Sakai, who had heard that we had brought all the goods back from Edo and that we had permission from Chikugo-no-kami and Saburōzaemon to sell them, told me that he would like to buy some. We could not agree to the price.
February
1–2 We have finally settled the price with the merchant from Sakai and landlord Shirōemon. [List of piece-goods sold for a total of 5896 taels.] We were paid in silver.
4 We sailed at high tide.
6 Before evening fell, two of our Japanese crew who were in a small vessel ahead of us to look out and tow our large barge, drifted away when the rushing rough water filled their vessel with water. When we finally became aware of this, it was too late to pull them into our barge. Our master hoped that they would be able to float on planks or tubs which had also fallen into the sea. He thought it best to harbour as soon as possible in Shiraishi, a place close by. Eight or ten vessels were sent to find them, but in vain, for night fell and some could not row against the hard wind and the current.
7 Early in the morning, some others went out looking for them, but they found nothing but some planks and tubs on the beach. The master hired two other men to take the place of the lost ones. We continued our journey. Nothing else noteworthy happened.
Arrival in Nagasaki
20 We arrived in Nagasaki in the afternoon. The interpreters and others who came to welcome us, told me that the town was plunged into sadness because it was rumoured that the Dutch had been forbidden trade with Japan and had been banned from here. This had caused the commodities here and in Miyako to rise in price. Furthermore, Governor Saburōzaemon had fallen into disfavour with the Shogun and might not return here, because last year he had created too many problems on behalf of the two Portuguese galleons. Undoubtedly they fear that their reputation has plummeted – especially with the Dutch who were witness to their actions, which is true – and it is remarkable that two ships, which had not come to attack them and for which they are supposed to have been on guard, could cause them such great alarm: the multitude of men and vessels which had been gathered and the impotence they displayed,
21 I sent the interpreters to Governor Gonpachirō and Regent Heizō to announce my return and to learn when I could present myself.
22 Heizō, regent of this town, fell from his horse and broke his leg a fortnight ago. There was a lack of doctors and he suffered great pain. He asked if our surgeon1 could attend to him. The surgeon did so and had he not done so, Heizō’s life might have been at stake, for in Japan one does not find any cripples caused by fractures or cuts. They do not have the nerve to have a leg amputated. Heizō may be able to save his leg, either shorter or crooked. He was very happy that our surgeon had returned in time. He thanked me kindly for having the surgeon attend to him. He also thanked me for the gifts which Versteeghen had taken to his residence last year when he was away at Miyako visiting his dying father.
23 I went to pay my respects to Governor Gonpachirō with five interpreters. I told him what had happened on the journey and in Edo. I complained about the distress we had to suffer because of the false accusations made by the Portuguese and against which our innocence was not given any credence. He replied that I should rest assured that the Company would not be subjected to any difficulties. He added:
‘The Shogun is not angry. When the ships arrive from Batavia, you shall travel to the Court again and appear before His Majesty.’
I think that this is proof of their feigned displeasure and also what the main cause is of our harsh treatment at Court:
March
6 A Nanking junk departed.
10 Another Chinese wankang or small junk, belonging to the people of Nanking, departed. The night after it froze several fingers thick in a bucket of water.
15 The interpreters are worried, not so much about the Company’s distressing situation as for their own denigration by the citizens, complaining daily about the Shogun’s displeasure which the Dutch had suffered in Edo. They have been contemplating the best course of action to put a stop to this and regain the Shogun’s favour should the envoy demanded – whose arrival is crucial now and confirmation of which we could learn with the arrival of the first ship – not arrive this year. If not, one of our most capable men should be chosen from the second or third ship to arrive here and before he landed he should be informed of his mission. I replied that this was an absurd proposal. Nonetheless, I believed that their intentions were good, but we had never resorted to deceit and it would not remain concealed from His Majesty forever, which would result in even greater damage than the year’s delay of sending an ambassador, for which there would be a sound enough reason, which might induce the Shogun’s favour towards us again, of which we had no doubts.
31 A Nanking junk departed. A citizen of this town, whose only income derives from the Company and who was also worried sick that the Company would leave, being interested mainly in his gain, told me that he had heard that the people of Miyako shared his worry and there were rumblings of discontent because no blame could be attached to us for being banned. In order to restore order, the governors had to issue a statement that there had been no discussion in Edo about the banishment of the Dutch. This has given the communities there and here much heart.
April
3 Interpreter Hakuzaemon said that mail had arrived from Edo saying that the government had recommended the merchants not to buy the Dutch goods at too high a price. Nonetheless, for this year, apart from the envoy, they hoped for more merchandise than that imported in the previous years. This promises good profits for the Company and this order seems to raise few obstacles.
15 Chikugo-no-kami and Saburōzaemon are expected here shortly. It is not known bearing what orders, but most think that it is to build a stronghold here for the better defence of this town should the Portuguese intend some attack. The Shogun will travel to his grandfather’s grave in Nikkō with a large retinue of nobles and priests. It is now thirty-three years since he died. This is the reason why all prisoners are to be released, except for the Christians, because these people, when they are released, will seldom renounce their faith – which the Shogun considers a major crime.
19 The Lord of Gotō arrived.
21 He has left.
29 Heizō has sent 20 schuiten of silver and two Japanese silk gowns to our surgeon for his help in curing his leg.
May
1 For the last four or five days I have had a fever, which has now abated.
2 The Lord of Hirado arrived.
4 He has left. Interpreter Shōsuke told me that the commodities are still rising in price every day. A picul of white raw silk is sold in Miyako for 720 taels and the other goods fetch similar sums.
7 Chikugo-no-kami and Saburōzaemon are expected any day now. When they are here they might ask me again for my replies to the question they put to me in Edo. The interpreters asked what I intended to do. I told them that I would stick to what I had stated then. I have ordered them to remind the landlords to repair the houses on the island, but I fear that it will be to no avail, for these men are reluctant to do anything, especially now that they fear it will be to no purpose, not being sure that we shall remain here.
9 With the governor’s permission, I went with our surgeon, Junior Merchant Oetgens, and Assistant Van Bijlen to collect some herbs.
15 Last night Commissioner Chikugo-no-kami, Governor Saburōzaemon, and the Lord of Bungo, Oribe-dono, arrived. More are expected. I sent the interpreters to greet the former two and to ask when I could present myself to them.
18 The community was worried about this gathering, fearing that it would be to the detriment of the Company. This forced Chikugo-no-kami to announce yesterday that he had only come to make arrangements in case the Portuguese returned. This has brought cheer to the town.
20 The Lord of Hirado arrived.
22 He left again.
27 After many threats, the landlords finally appeared. I showed them the defects to the houses. They promised to repair them, but they are not likely to do so. The reason is that the interpreters, who do not wish to make enemies out of them for the Company’s sake, state openly that the one is their neighbour and the other their relation. Thus as long as they are the masters, we shall suffer.
June
10 The governor asked to borrow a warehouse to store the goods belonging to the Lord of Karatsu, which have been confiscated on behalf of the Shogun. The lord slit his belly some months ago for no known reason. I let him have the warehouse.
12 They brought the goods. They fetched the timber which they used as girders from the town, but they let me pay for it. Thus I lent the Shogun a warehouse and I had to throw in money as well.
15 Some days ago I had asked the governor permission to have a new sampan made for unloading the goods instead of the old one which is useless. His reply was that I should have to wait till the Company’s affairs improved.
18 Some hemp belonging to the Shogun was stored in one of our warehouses.
26 A priest sent three linen katabira to our surgeon for his help in curing him.
July
4 Kichibyōe and Hakuzaemon told me that a picul of white raw silk is selling for 1010 taels in Miyako and the price keeps rising, because the Shogun is having many silk clothes made and no junks have appeared. Some time ago, a citizen of this town bought a horn in Cambodia for a low price from some Portuguese who had stranded there. The horn was about one-and-a-half feet long, the one end was almost a span wide and the other blunt. From afar it looked like a whitish cow’s horn, but straight rather than curved. He tried to sell it to several people here for 800 taels, but it had remained unsold till a few days ago. A small piece had been sent to the Shogun. This piece worked a miracle in Edo. A young man, son of a nobleman, had drowned and had already been buried for some hours. With the Shogun’s permission, he was exhumed and given some of this horn, which prolonged his life by a day. The Shogun was astonished and presented this citizen with a hundred koban. Chikugo-no-kami, who thinks he has experienced some of the horn’s potency, bought some for 200 koban, others for 200 or 300 taels, so that he has made more than 3000 taels on it. In their time, the Portuguese sold a similar one of the legendary unicorn here for 2000 taels. Chikugo-no-kami was very desirous to see an illustration of that animal. He finally obtained one, and he adhered to his belief that the aforesaid horn had belonged to such a unicorn, praising its potency in curing many illnesses.
12 The apostate Portuguese priest, Chūan, came, accompanied by two of the governor’s noblemen, to ask our surgeon about the potency of many herbs and what was used for various ailments which he mentioned. He was given the answers. Changing the subject of the conversation, he said that the Shogun’s displeasure was caused purely by the long delay in the promised display of gratitude for the prisoners released.
22 Five hundred Japanese anchors belonging to the Shogun have been stored in a warehouse.
26 A boy from Chikugo-no-kami’s household, who has been suffering from an open wound on his leg for three years, came with the interpreters to seek help from our surgeon. The priest Chūan was with him to attend the treatment and to assist if need be. Magobei told me that Chikugo-no-kami had been discussing the Dutch with him and Chūan. He said among other things ‘Aren’t the Portuguese and the Dutch good friends at heart? This seems clear from their statement that a pilot and crew had been lent to them at Batavia.’ This remark proves what credence is given to the Portuguese: when they charge us with something, we are judged to be guilty, although at present they seem to act differently. This is not without reason, for they think this a better opportunity to wrest the long-promised ambassador from us than a fierce countenance or many requests, and they did not wish to let it slip by.
31 A junk arrived from Cambodia. This is the first of the foreign vessels this year. It had sailed on 18 June. [List of goods.]
August
Arrival of the Berkhout and the Liefde
4 A junk arrived from Quinam. [List of goods.] One arrived from Fuzhou. [List of goods.] We had been told before of the weight of the goods, now we give the pieces, sometimes just the weight. At the end all the imports will be listed in full with their selling prices.
At nine o’clock, we received tidings that two of our ships had been spotted. I sent two boats with three Dutchmen, an interpreter, and the bongioisen, with a letter of instruction. They arrived in the afternoon and anchored in front of the town. They are the flutes the Berkhout and the Liefde. They sailed from Batavia on 23 April and on 1 July from Siam. [List of goods.]
5 A junk arrived from Zhangzhou. [List of goods.] Two secretaries of the governors came to give the guards of the island instructions and to warn us to take care with fire.
6 Rain.
7 I have mustered the crew of the Berkhout, the placard has been read and affixed and we have started to unload. In the evening, after I had thanked the bongioisen for their supervision, I was told that I should be thankful that the unloading had been carried out so smoothly. There had been long deliberations by the governors if this should be granted to us before the Shogun had been given satisfaction. I think that these are mere words and expressions of arrogance, but they showed themselves to be friendly and accommodating.
9 The news about the ships turned out to be false: a junk had carried two white sails. Last night it arrived from Patani with the following goods. [List.] Two junks from Quinam brought the following goods. [List.]
10 I have mustered the crew on the Liefde and the orders were read out. We have started to unload the ship and we finished unloading the Berkhout. The gunpowder, ammunition, and rudder have been brought ashore.
11 We have been unloading the Liefde.
12 We have unloaded the Liefde. The books and papers have been inspected. The unloading of both ships went smoothly. I sent the interpreters to the governors to thank them. A junk arrived from Cochin China. [List of goods.]
14 Nothing happened.
15 I sent someone with a letter to the regents of the Lord of Hirado to collect the debt he owes us. I have little hope we shall collect any. Jacob Pietersz, of Hoorn, former boatswain’s mate on the Liefde, was bathing near the ship and hit his head against the ship or the anchor. He became unwell and could not raise his head above the water. Before help could reach him, he drowned. The governor ordered fishermen to look for him till midnight.
16 They are still looking for him. Storm and rain.
17 The body of the drowned man surfaced. He was wrapped in mats and taken out the bay to be thrown into the sea. A junk arrived from Cochin China. [List of goods.]
18 Kichibyōe showed me a pass which Overtwater had issued to a Chinese called Suwan in March 1647 to sail to Quinam and back to Tayouan with his junk. The junk has arrived here with a prominent person from that country to ask the governors here if the Japanese will be allowed to sail there when an envoy is sent to His Majesty next year to request this. Like the Japanese, they also hated the Christians. All Christians in their kingdom had been exterminated or banned, and therefore the Japanese need not fear that they would bring any here. He also told me that three of our ships had gone to the rescue of the Tonkinese and had been captured. Two had been freed with all the crew – which does not sound like the truth – and the third had been burnt. The captain of this ship, a Japanese mestizo, had been kept prisoner. This made me look forward to the arrival of the ships from Tayouan and Tonkin even more.
19 Nothing noteworthy happened.
20 The three ships turned out not to be ours, but Portuguese from Macao or elsewhere. The captain has been kept prisoner. The remaining crew had been put on the two ships and they had been sent away without rice or water. A junk arrived from Fuzhou. [List of goods.]
22 Three persons, two men and an old women, so-called Christians, were taken to the place of execution to be hanged upside down by their legs. After promising to inform on others, they were returned to the prison.
23 Nothing noteworthy happened.
24 Kichibyōe told me that a crowd of Chinese citizens of this town had presented a request to Chikugo-no-kami, in which they declared that last year a substantial amount of money had been sent from here to Cambodia on a junk, which had been seized unlawfully by the Dutch. They requested he order us to restitute the damages and to refrain from such actions in future. He turned them down, saying that he did not concern himself with such matters, which had occurred a great distance away from this country. After some days he issued orders that each should state exactly how much he had sent. No one turned up. This revealed their villainy. However, this lie remains unpunished, like all others, lest – it is claimed – the least, even doubtful, matter be disclosed upset the peace of this country. When someone is justifiably accused, his informer receives a reward, but if the accusation is unfounded, he is allowed to go scot-free, and he will remain as honest as before.
26 According to the master of the Liefde, they had had to pump water at all hours between the fatherland and here, in both rough weather and calm, which tired out the crew. I had a search for the leak carried out.
27–29 Variable winds, easterly to southerly.
30 More anchors have been stored here on behalf of the Shogun. For the first time there has been a northerly wind.
31 It gathered force, which increased our longing for the ships. Never before have the first ships from Tayouan or the direct ones from Batavia arrived here so late. Kura-no-suke, one of the private secretaries of the Lord of Hirado, sent me a reply to my letter of the 15th. When his lord had returned from inspecting his domain, he would remind him of his obligation and then he would let me know of his decision. The bearer of the letter gave me some hope, based on some things Kura-no-suke had said, that we would receive some rice this year in partial settlement of the debt. Interpreter Magobei also said that he had heard the same from one of the lord’s noblemen. Next year he might send some cash. The receipt of rice would please the Company more than such promises.
September
1–3 The wind is still northerly and north-easterly. The Berkhout has been beached to be careened. The past three days the Japanese have celebrated their Feast of the Dead. The Chinese have also celebrated it. A few of their friends lost their souls, when, according to custom, they visited the graves. A stand, which had been stacked full of food and people and was top-heavy, gave way, and five Japanese lost their lives, several others arms and legs, of whom two souls became so scared that they also chose to take wing into space.
4–9 Inconstant winds. The Lord of Arima sent our surgeon, who had cured him, three silk gowns and seven katabira for his trouble.
Arrival of the Kampen and the Witte Valk
14 The governors notified me that a Dutch ship had been spotted about fifteen miles off Iōshima. In the evening news came of a second ship. I sent some men there and they brought me the news that the one was the Kampen, with Senior Merchants Schillemans and Brouckhorst on board, which had sailed from Tonkin on 31 July with a cargo worth 325,319 guilders. The second ship, Witte Valk, came with a cargo worth 68,413 guilders. She had been dispatched on 30 June via Tayouan. The King’s debts had been collected and only a debt of 2435 taels owned by Prince Dickongtho2 was left. Trade had been satisfactory and there had been more goods for sale than money to buy it. They had left Merchant Willem Bijlvelt with eight others in the Company lodge. They had collected fresh water on an island near Baboxijm.3 My successor, Snoucq, on the flute the Patientia, had joined them and he had told them that he had left Tayouan with the Witte Valk on 27 August. They had seen the flute the Koe, which had sailed from the Pescadores with a cargo from Batavia, at sea, but they had lost sight of her in the mist. The dark night prevented us from obtaining news from the second ship.
15 At one o’clock in the afternoon, the Kampen dropped anchor in front of the town. She had been towed in by tow-boats from two miles off Iōshima, where she had lain during the night. At five o’clock, the flute the Witte Valk also arrived. She carried a cargo from Tayouan worth 19,192 guilders. The Tonkinese cargo had been transferred to the Patientia. On 8 September, they had lost sight of her off Crocodile Island. Letters from the president and council in Tayouan informed me that the import of commodities from China had dropped to almost nothing. Sales were fair. The supply of provisions, especially rice, was sober because of the large numbers of Chinese, around seven thousand, who had fled there last year. Senior Merchants Schillemans and Brouckhorst and Merchant De Groot came on shore with me.
16 The crew of the Kampen has been mustered and the orders have been read out. We have started to unload the ship, but rain and thunderclaps put a stop to it. Chikugo-no-kami told Magobei that he did not believe an ambassador would come this year, for so many ships had arrived and there was still no confirmation of him. They would bide their time till next year.
17 According to custom, the citizens of the town offered the governors gifts, to a total of eight chests of money.4 The governors refused to accept it out of consideration for the poor living standard of the people. This has brought the governors much praise and much joy to the citizens. There were rumours that a Dutch ship had been spotted off Nomo, 8–10 miles from here, but no confirmation came from the governors.
Arrival of the Koe and the Patientia
18 The Koe, which had left Batavia on 14 July with a cargo worth 206,035 guilders for this factory and 2800 pounds of sandalwood for Tayouan, anchored in the bay. I read the letters of the Governor-General and Council of the Indies and handed the interpreters the letters for the burgemeesters of this town, written in Japanese. They promised to deliver them, but they would have to show them to the governors first. I told them of the contents: the Governor-General’s apology for Versteeghen’s actions last year.5
19 The interpreters reported that the Japanese letters had been handed to the governors. When they had read them, they would be given to the burgemeesters. They had been pleased about the contents and the style. Chikugo-no-kami had been pleased about the safe arrival of the ships.
At four o’clock, the flutes the Patientia and the Koe were towed before the town. Snoucq came on shore. The Witte Valk was unloaded and the books and papers were inspected.
20 The interpreters reminded me that we should deliberate upon the questions which had been put to me in Edo, also upon the desirable replies if the officials were to ask us anything about the seizure of the Cambodian and Cochin-Chinese junks which sail to or from here, which they are likely to do, for Chikugo-no-kami had said that the complaints of the claimants might reach the ears of the Shogun, which he would not like to see happen to the Company, for he was a supporter of the Company and believed in the sincerity of the Dutch, for whom he had done his best in Edo to such a degree that it had raised suspicions and he had had to absent himself from the Court for forty days. He required our replies in writing before we appeared before the officials. Snoucq and I mustered the crew of the Koe, the orders were read, and we started to unload the ship.
21 We could not unload the Koe because of the pouring rain and strong wind. A junk arrived from Quanzhou. [List of goods.] We have discussed the interpreters’ proposition and we agreed to the written reply signed by Snoucq, which backed what I had stated in Edo. We added that the ship which had carried Fialho from Batavia had been manned by soldiers.
22 Snoucq signed our statement, which the interpreters had translated into Japanese. He and I were summoned by Chikugo-no-kami, Saburōzaemon, and Gonpachiro to Saburōzaemon’s residence. We handed them the statement. Their secretary read it twice. Chikugo-no-kami said: ‘If you had given us this much elucidation in Edo, the Company’s affairs would have been in a much better state.’ I replied that this was the fault of the interpreter, from whom I had kept nothing back, but to whom I had explained this matter fully several times. No response was given. If this has not been translated or if the officials merely said so to create a cause – which is likely – is cause for thought. They had a long talk with the interpreters, which was not translated for us. We were dismissed. When we were back at home, the interpreters rewrote the aforesaid document and gave it to Snoucq to sign. They tore up the first document, saying that it contained something which had not been clearly expressed. At four we were summoned again by the officials. We handed them the second document. After they had heard the contents, they said that they did not doubt that it accorded with the truth, for we had been questioned thoroughly many times now. We replied that they could be certain that it would never be found to differ.
23 We have resumed the unloading. The rain put a stop to it in the evening.
24 We resumed the unloading.
25 We were finished by the afternoon. The books and papers were inspected. Chikugo-no-kami’s secretary and Chūan, the priest, came to inspect the chest of medicines. After the governors had given permission, I handed it to them.
26 The crew of the Patientia has been mustered and the orders have been read. We have started to unload the ship.
27 A junk arrived from Anhai. [List of goods.]
28 Rumour had it that a white sail – which they think belongs to a Dutch ship – had been spotted 10–12 miles off Iōshima. I think this is just a trick to see if we are expecting another ship from Batavia or Tayouan.
29–30 Considering the demand and the necessity for rice on Tayouan, I asked the interpreters if the governors could be persuaded to send a ship early to notify the Governor-General of my long stay here and load her just with rice or wheat. They thought it might be possible, but it was ten or twelve days too early to ask.
October
1 Chikugo-no-kami sent for the silver ship to have a look at it. When he heard that it was large and it would take a lot of work to set it up, and also because he had a fever, he returned it unseen. But he let me know that he would send for it again before his departure.
2 I requested the governors’ permission to buy and export timber for Tayouan and Tonkin and stones for Batavia. Their reply was that they wanted to discuss it for a few more days. This is only a delay to wait for the Court’s decision concerning our trade. Nonetheless, the timber merchants sent their workmen to collect timber and the stonemasons took the measurements of the wooden models. This gave me confidence that my request would be fulfilled and that there would be no delay.
3–4 The warehouses containing skins were opened with the governors’ permission.
5 Boisterous weather.
6 Nothing noteworthy happened.
7 Chikugo-no-kami’s secretary and Chūan, the apostate Jesuit priest, fetched some burning-glasses or reading glasses and samples of Brazil wood for Chikugo-no-kami.
8–11 Kichibyōe told me that Chikugo-no-kami had ordered him to tell me that he was exceptionally pleased about the care taken every year to bring him the small things he asked for. He intended to hand me a new list for next year and he would show me a memorandum within two or three days and whatever was available, he would send for in order not to bother me with such trifles during the trading season. He said that he expected a favourable decision from the Court.
12 The second Nanking junk carried the following goods. [List.] It also brought the news that none were to follow.
13 Last night a citizen killed two guards of the town by cleaving their skulls and he slit his belly.
15 Denbyōe told me that the letters which came yesterday only mentioned that Matsudaira Yamato-no-kami,6 a cousin of the Shogun, had died suddenly of a stroke and that Inaba Awaji-no-kami, Lord of [7] had taken his own life by slitting his belly, for no apparent reason.
16 Nothing noteworthy happened.
17 The interpreters gave me hope that the expected decision would be here in three or four days. They also said that it was likely that the Shogun would summon me either together with Snoucq or on my own, leaving Snoucq here to make the journey next year. I said that it would not be possible and it would harm the Company’s interests to keep a ship here that long, for were it then to sail to Batavia, it would run grave risks. I trusted that these arguments would be acceptable to the officials and they would spare the Company such hazards.
18 A wankang departed. The Portuguese Chūan brought me a drawing of four examples of burning or reading glasses, two round ones and two square ones. He would like to have a few if they could be made. He also asked for a telescope with which the moon could be viewed in its entirety, enlarged, as it could be seen now in parts through the one sent last year, and as beautiful as could be had. He did not ask for any medicines, for he still had an ample supply.
19–20 Nothing noteworthy happened.
21 Chikugo-no-kami returned the chest with medicines. He had taken the medicines he wanted.
22 Nothing noteworthy happened.
23 The Japanese are celebrating the 7th day of the 9th month.8 They go into town wearing their most beautiful clothes.
24–25 Strong north-westerly wind and very cold. The Japanese feast ended with more bustle than when it started.
27 Chūan brought me another polished horn, a span long, and similar to the other one, belonging to Chikugo-no-kami, who had experienced its potency several times. Thus he held it in high esteem. Having heard my opinion of it, he told Chikugo-no-kami that I had sung its praises and when European princes were able to lay their hands on one, they kept it like a treasure in their chamber, for great potency was ascribed to some rhinoceros horns. It seems that it would displease him, if the horn was spoken of disparagingly, even more so if it became known, because it is fairly costly.
28 Nothing noteworthy happened.
29 One of Saburōzaemon’s noblemen, who suffered from gout, came to be treated by our surgeon. He said that good news had arrived from Court about our case, but a further decision was awaited. He did not doubt that the trade would commence in five days. The journey by our new captain had already been discussed and he had been appointed as his escort.
30 Because we had time on our hands, changes were made on the ships among the crewmen whose contract had run out and wished to return to the fatherland. Senior Merchants Philips Schillemans, Anthonio van Brouckhorst, and Merchant Jan de Groot were commissioned to take care of this task.
31 The month has ended and still there is no decision from the Court.
November
1 I asked the governors for permission to have some of the warehouses opened to air the goods. They promised to have their bongioisen do so the next day. Several people have told me that the white Chinese raw silk is being sold in Miyako for its weight in silver, that is 1600 taels for a picul. It cannot be had for 15 taels per catty in Nagasaki. The Nanking Chinese have sold white gielams for 17 taels, wide pelangs for 17 taels, ordinary ones for 10 taels. These prices promise the Company good profits, if only we could start trade.
2 In the afternoon, four bongioisen opened the warehouses with the goods which are the most perishable. I wished to leave them opened for a few days to check them better without bothering the governors every day for permission, but they locked them again. The Tonkinese cloth in one of the warehouses was still all right, but it would not be so for much longer for worms were sure to damage it. The bongioisen promised to return the next day and open any warehouse we liked. They said that the governors were looking forward to the Court’s decision on our affairs. They think that the long delay is caused by the death of the Shogun’s cousin. Furthermore, there was no one at Court at present to advocate our case. Chikugo-no-kami did his best through messengers.
3 The warehouse in which the Tonkinese pelangs are stored was opened. They were found to be undamaged. I found it unnecessary to have others opened. The deerskins and other hides have had the worst, most of the worms having died by now and the remaining ones cannot do much harm because of the cold. I had the interpreters thank the governors for their goodwill towards the Company. I complained about the great damage the Company is suffering because of this delay. Five Chinese junks departed together, two for Zhangzhou and the others for Fuzhou.
5 Two of Saburōzaemon’s noblemen came to inspect the silver ship, which pleased them greatly.
6 The 20th day of the 9th month,9 my day of departure, has passed and still we are waiting. We decided to convey our unhappiness to the governors, which might speed up the Court’s decision or perhaps we could get leave to dispatch a ship shortly, loaded with rice, to send word of the state of our affairs here. The interpreters returned with the positive news that a messenger had arrived bearing letters from the Court addressed to the governors. Chikugo-no-kami had been sent for and several of the governors’ attendants had noticed that the news was in our favour. This had been predicted to the people in the town by yamabushi or exorcists some days ago. In the afternoon, Snoucq and I were summoned by the governors and Chikugo-no-kami to Gonpachirō’s residence. The following was read to us and translated by the interpreters. ‘It has come to the Shogun’s attention that the Portuguese ambassador had declared that four years ago he sailed from Portugal with two galleons, one of which had gone to Jacatra owing to deaths and illnesses among the crew and other accidents. There the Dutch had given him aid in the shape of a pilot and crew, with whom he sailed to Macao.
7 The goods which will be sold at the first sale have been displayed. Two secretaries of the governors inspected the rayskins, of which they took fifteen to show to the governors, who would select the ones to be presented to the Shogun.
8 The skins for the first sale have been put on display. The merchants were allowed free access to everything. A thief, who had stolen three pelangs, was caught and surrendered to the interpreters and the landlords. We shall learn later what they have done with him – which will be his release. Chikugo-no-kami’s secretary, Uma-no-jō, a man held in high esteem, came with Sakuemon, first burgemeester of this town, to select some rhinoceros horns for his master. He chose nine to show to Chikugo-no-kami. He told me that this delay in trade had been caused by the Shogun’s displeasure and now that he had been given satisfaction, trade had been allowed as before. He regretted that I had not been permitted to pay reverence to the Shogun. If the new captain did not make the journey to Edo this year, he would the next. I thanked him for his favours to us, and especially his master, who had advocated our cause, which has had such a happy ending.
9 We held the first sale and delivered the goods. The raw silk, especially the Tonkinese silk, sold well,
10 The delivery of goods did not proceed without problems because of the hurry. Gonpachirō sent one of his noblemen to ask me if the goods sold at the first sale had been delivered and if we would put some more on view tomorrow. I told him that he should tell his master that we were doing our very best to finish our business here, but it took time, as he would see if he came on the island and inspected the work.
11 We were busy displaying the goods when Gonpachirō sent his servants for the second time to ask when all the ships would leave. He also ordered me to make haste with the sale of the goods. I replied that we could not do more than we were doing to leave as soon as possible. We meant to dispatch four or five ships on the 25th and not before. In the evening, to please the governors, five warehouses were opened in which were silk and silk piece-goods. Two bongioisen kept guard at the doors, but there was such a rush that even the bongioisen wanted to close the doors early.
12 Three burgemeesters were sent by the governors to ask when the sales would come to an end and the ships would leave. Furthermore, how many sales would be held after this one. I told them that trading in this way was almost unbearable, for we were not given enough time to trade properly. We would try to dispatch four or five ships on the 25th or the 27th. One would have to stay for a few more days. The remaining goods, apart from what was on view now, would be sold in two sales. They asked if it could be done in one. I said, yes, if it were to be sold for half price. They said that they would go to the warehouse to have a look when the merchants were let in, so that they could give a proper report to the governors of our efforts and the problems and damage resulting from the pressure to make haste. They did so and the result was that a letter was sent by the secretaries of the governors to the six interpreters, in which they stated that they understood the situation and a matter of such great importance should not be hastened or dealt with carelessly. However, we should try to send off four or five ships on the 13th or 14th of their 10th month.13
13 The goods have been sold for better prices than before. We have delivered a good deal. I sent Kichibyōe to the governors to ask when we could present the annual gifts to them. Gonpachirō said, when it suited us. Saburōzaemon was out hunting and the interpreter could not speak to him.
14 We have been busy delivering the goods sold. The buyer of the Tonkinese silk could not be found. This is bad for the Company. I sent Kichibyōe to the burgemeesters to ask them to see to it that the buyer or his partners accept the silk. The governors sent another messenger to warn us to make haste with the sale.
15 A search has been made for the buyer of the Tonkinese silk. The senior merchant of the five shogunal cities was asked about him and he said that he was unknown, which is improbable, for no one with little capital would dare buy such a large lot without having any partners. When the governors learnt of this they merely issued orders that they could be sold to others and we should settle for that. The lacquerer who brought the pieces we had ordered last year was barred from the island by the governors, because of the jealousy of others who would have liked to sell us their wares for excessive prices, which they raise every year.
16 We have been busy putting goods on display and delivering those sold. The governors kept sending us messengers urging us to make haste with the sale. The annoyances which we are subjected to are inexpressible. The interpreters told me that Chikugo-no-kami had been annoyed about the copper, but not to the extent that he wished us to accept chiurmij instead of copper. Therefore we had notices affixed that whoever had fine copper for sale could bring it and when samples proved to be true, we would accept it.
17 A Chinese has been put in chains, because he was found to have delivered some goods to friends of Japanese abroad. They threatened to burn him. The third sale has been held. The Tonkinese silk has been sold for 18 taels per picul less than it was sold to the runaway merchant. We have started to load the flute the Patientia.
18 A Chinese junk which had left here on the 12th returned, for the wind has been blowing from the south-west for several days. The governors sent a bongiois to urge me to have most of the ships depart on the 10th of their 10th month.14 The interpreters told me that the governors had ordered them to confer with us about the copper which we refused to accept this year and also not to accept the lacquerware ordered from the rightful supplier, but from the others. I told them that we were willing to accept the copper, but that it should be pure. We were still willing to make a contract to accept a large batch every year, as we had proposed to Sakuemon, but to which proposal we had not received any reply. We were not interested in lacquerware at the moment – to make them sing a finer tune. Mention was also made of the seizure of the Cambodian and Cochin-Chinese ships, to which I gave the same reply as on 21 September.
Departure of the Patientia
20 In the morning, I accompanied Brouckhorst to the Patientia and dispatched her to Tayouan. A calm forced her to drop anchor close to the town. In the evening she set sail again. Several merchants came to complain about their losses on the copper and asked us to consider accepting a batch, for we ran the risk than none was to be had later. I told them about the losses we had already suffered and, if it remained unsold, would bear even more on the Company if we were to accept it. We were willing to accept pure copper and our refusal was not to bring the price down, for we had offered to make a contract with them to accept a large lot, if pure, every year for a certain price. They left. The interpreters asked if there was a way to satisfy both parties. Perhaps we could accept a batch for a price which was lowered to the amount that we would lose on having to refine it. I do not think they will accept this. The Lord of Kinokuni sent a servant to collect the buffaloes which we had brought for him. We gave him two, the third and smallest one had died a few days ago. He promised to pay the new captain in Osaka on his journey to the Court.
21 The governors sent me two messengers, one after the other, to warn me to dispatch the ships on the 10th of their 10th month.
22 The interpreters put in many requests to have the merchant who had bought the Bengal silk discharged of his purchase. They pretend that he had seen the silk late in the day when it was getting dark and he had made a mistake. The senior merchants of the five shogunal cities did not want him to accept the silk either. I could not persuade the interpreters to mention this to the governors, for it would be humiliating to a man of such standing. The governors would order the batch be sold again. Even the interpreters complain about the unjust way we are being treated. They declare openly that times have changed for the worse. When the buyer of the Tonkinese silk could not be found, it caused a great deal of fuss. Because of the copper and the receipt of other goods, they would have liked not to bother with this one, who possesses adequate means and who can bear some loss, had he not been so well-known. In the meantime, we were stuck with the silk. The copper merchants asked for samples so they could deliver the desired quality next year. I promised to give them, on condition that we agreed on the price first and this was confirmed in the presence of the burgemeesters. They agreed to this proposal. I ordered the interpreters to request the officials’ help, but they are not responding. The remaining Tonkinese silk, which is the King’s and the Prince’s, has been sorted and put on view with the remaining goods.
23 The warehouses have been opened, the goods have been inspected and we have loaded the goods for Tonkin in the flute the Kampen.
24 The goods have been sold for a handsome profit, the Bengal cabessa for 401 taels, the Tonkinese king’s silk for 279 taels, the Prince’s for 333 taels, yielding more profit than the King’s.
25 We would have loaded the Witte Valk, but the rain prevented that.
26 We have been loading the Witte Valk. On behalf of Burgemeester Sakuemon, the interpreters requested that I discharge the merchant Annaija Jaffioije, who had bought the Bengal silk, from his purchase. He promised to do us favours in return. We took into consideration that the governors did not wish to concern themselves with this matter but wished us to settle it ourselves, and that we needed the burgemeester’s favour and moreover, we would be forced to accept anyway, for there is no justice for us here, and I acquiesced, but in return I asked him to acknowledge this by lending his assistance when we settled the contract with the copper merchants.
Departure of the Kampen
27 The Kampen has been loaded and is ready to sail. She needs to sail in order to reach Tonkin in time, thus at ten o’clock she set off for Tayouan with Senior Merchant Philips Schillemans on board. The flute the Berkhout is being loaded.
Departure of the Witte Valk
28 The Witte Valk has taken on her full load. Around midday she sailed.
29 The copper merchants brought me a sample of fine, pure copper of which yakan or small kettles are made. They asked if we wished to have this kind every year. I showed them a piece of bar-copper which was of the same quality and told them that we would accept this quality. They went to the senior merchants of the five shogunal cities to discuss the price with them.
Departure of the Berkhout
30 The Berkhout set sail for Tayouan. The senior merchants of the five shogunal cities had their servants inform me that they wished to come help us settle the price of copper.
December
1 Chikugo-no-kami sent me a letter urgently requesting medicines for the Shogun, but he did not state which ones; one or two exceptionally beautiful telescopes, even if they were in bad cases, which had been requested for so many years and still had not arrived; several fine bezoar stones, which the captain would have to present to His Majesty. I promised to do my best. The interpreters urged Snoucq and myself to impress upon the Governor-General in the most suitable way the necessity of sending an ambassador, lest he be delayed any longer or we suffer because of this. The officials here had no intentions of reminding us again, as they have not done currently, for honour’s sake. They also said that if he had not yet arrived from Holland next year, one should be sent from Batavia, for no excuse would be acceptable. I told them that I understood everything and I had written to the Governor-General and I would do so again, hoping that my words would be believed and the demanded ambassador be sent. The remaining goods have been put on view, inspected, and sold. The Bengal silk has sold for 38:5 taels less than previously, but still with 155 per cent profit, because it was a small lot and the last one. The skins and other small stuff have also made better prices than before.
2 I have tried to settle the price of the pieces ordered with the lacquerers, but they were so unreasonable that we could not come to an agreement. This is a great annoyance at this time. On behalf of some copper merchants, the interpreters told me that they could not sell the copper for less than 13 taels per picul.
3 Not all of the goods has been delivered, yet the governors insist that we leave on the 6th if we wish to retain their favour and especially that of Chikugo-no-kami, for his journey to Edo depends on this. I promised to do all I could to oblige them when the ships had been loaded, which has not been done yet, although they have to take in much cargo. But could they wait at the entrance of the bay for three or four days so I could settle all accounts before my departure? The governors willingly gave their permission. The lacquerware ordered for Coromandel and Bengal has been bought and packed. I have given them the order for Siam. The price cannot be settled before we have seen the work. I asked the governors to accept the annual gifts according to custom, but they refused them, as did the burgemeesters of the town, because our gifts had not been accepted in Edo. The new captain’s journey has not yet been confirmed. When permission for this did come, they would accept them from him. Chikugo-no-kami is the main obstruction, it is said.
4 Instead of stones, we have loaded the remaining rice as ballast onto the Liefde. I have presented the interpreters and the burgemeesters of this island with the usual gifts.
5 The governors took into consideration that it would be a great inconvenience to me to settle all affairs on board the ship and gave me permission to remain on shore till the 8th, but all others who will also leave have been ordered to be on board on the 6th.
6 We shipped 150 chests of silver onto the Liefde and all the others went on board.
Unnamed.
Dickongtho was the King of Tonkin’s younger son. Van Brouckhorst mentions him being the Governor of Gianh and the King’s third son (p. 83), but elsewhere he states that Dickonghwee was the third son. Anyway, neither was the eldest son, who was named Dickonghfoe. The second son was named Dickongtaij. The spelling of all the names vary. See 11 Aug. 1644 for the reference.
Now known as the Matsu Islands. We thank Professor Peter Kang for this information.
Hassaku.
Versteeghen abused his position in Japan to request the Japanese authorities for the settlement of outstanding debts of his late father-in-law, Melchior van Santvoort, one of the survivors of the Liefde, which stranded in Japan in 1600. His requests were rejected. His actions reflected badly on the reputation of the Company. See W.Ph. Coolhaas (ed.), Generale missiven van gouverneurs-generaal en raden aan Heren XVII der Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, Vol. II: 1639–1655 (Den Haag: Martinus Nijhoff, 1964), pp. 323–324.
He was a son of Matsudaira Hideyasu, who was an uncle of Tokugawa Iemitsu. He was Lord of Fukuchiyama.
Left blank.
The Kunchi Festival.
5 November.
Sic. 24 November.
Quion may be Keian, the name of the era which started in 1648, so the date given is confusing.
This could be shirome, an alloy of tin and lead. We thank Professor Matsui Yōko for this information.
27 or 28 November.
24 November.