1654
October
Departure of the Witte Valk and the Kalf
November
1 Overcast and a northerly breeze. On behalf of Governor Yohyōe, the interpreters Hachizaemon and Magobei came to exchange 270 gold koban for silver. It will be exchanged again in Osaka when we travel to Edo. The silver bars and the bill of lading will travel with me on the barge, as His Honour has ordered. Shortly after they had left, Interpreter Sukezaemon came. Under the pretext of paying for some tent wine that had been fetched and in between some idle talk, he asked me when I had arrived in the country, for what purpose and which posts I had filled successively in the service of the Company. I replied truthfully to all his questions. When I first arrived, the other interpreters had asked me the same questions but not in such an outspoken way as today. I do not know who is behind this, therefore I thought it best to insert it here.
2 Steady rain last night with a strong north-easterly wind, veering southerly around noon. The warehouses and the island have been cleaned.
3 Variable wind with showers. Very unsettled weather. At dusk a junk arrived from Quanzhou with white raw silk and other commodities, which have been noted at the end.
4 Cold northerly wind, clear weather. The interpreters told me that Governor Yohyōe will leave for Edo tomorrow. They asked when I intend to follow. I told them when it pleased the incumbent governor, Kiemon. They said that it was up to me. I replied that when my predecessors had proposed a date, the governors had still be the ones to decide as they pleased. Therefore I would also do what they ordered. In the evening, on the governor’s orders, Denbyōe came to show me a Dutch document. When I read it, I saw that it was a pass issued by the opperhoofd in Siam, Volkerus Westerwolt, to the Chinese nachoda Saqua on 29 May. It allows him to sail from Siam to Amoy. The interpreter went to report this to the governors.
5 Sukezaemon told me that Governor Yohyōe has left for Edo. Governor Kiemon intended to visit the island today. He came at three in the afternoon. He was accompanied by Matsura Hizen-sama, Lord of Hirado, who had never visited the island in all of the fourteen years that we have resided here. I escorted them to the opperhoofd’s house and treated them to Persian fruits and tent wine. They talked merrily while enjoying the treats. Now that I was sitting with Their Honours, after everyone had had a drink, Kiemon-sama handed
6 Our surgeon was asked to go to the house of Sōbei, the former supervisor of our island, who was in the throes of death, suffering from old age and paralysis, to see if he could somewhat relieve the old man’s suffering. The surgeon reported that little or nothing could be done.
7 Unsettled weather with showers.
8 Nothing noteworthy happened.
9 The same weather. I conferred with the interpreters and Kurōzaemon, the island supervisor, whether it would be better to contract with the lacquerers for the three norimono ordered for Bengal here or to wait till our arrival in Osaka – because the work is not something out of the ordinary. We decided first to request Governor Kiemon permission to have them made and after permission had been granted to notify two or three lacquerers and ask for their quote, which will undoubtedly be exorbitant as usual.
10 Cold weather with a northerly wind. On the orders of Governor Kiemon, one of his bongioisen escorted our surgeon to the house of Nissie Gerobe-dono, a Japanese merchant, who had a large abscess on his back. After having examined it, he dressed the abscess and was then asked to attend to the man every day. Because Governor Kiemon knows about it, I agreed to let him go. The governor had Hachizaemon inform me that he had received a letter from Commissioner Chikugo-no-kami in Edo, in which the commissioner expressed his satisfaction that several rarities, such as spectacles, spyglasses, prints and earthenware, which he had ordered several years ago, had now arrived. He was looking forward to the captain bringing them to Edo.
11 Fine weather with a south-easterly wind. Just one sampan could be beached, because the water dropped fast.
12 Around noon, while we were sitting at table, several Japanese priests came to visit us, including one who usually guards the late Shogun’s grave. After they had looked into every nook and cranny, they left satisfied, without having tasted of anything we offered them. Shortly after, a group of lacquerers came, accompanied by four of our interpreters, the island supervisor, Kurōzaemon, and a bongiois, to discuss the three norimono for Bengal. We were very surprised that they came twenty-two strong to discuss such a minor matter, when we had asked for two or three craftsmen. They replied that it was the governor’s order. I proposed to them to have three norimono made in Japanese fashion, measuring the size provided by Batavia. Furthermore, the floors should be made of rattan instead of wood and they should be lined with gold cloth or velvet. When they had understood the order, they formulated their quote, namely, should the norimono be made of cabessa lacquer, each would cost 1100 taels, when made of bariga lacquer 850 taels, and when of pee lacquer – which is the lowest grade,
13 Westerly wind and a drizzle. Nothing happened.
14 Clear summer weather and dry. We beached the other sampans. Today I discussed with the Company servants and Magobei that we should take some action to prevent the Company from suffering a loss on the 1300 bales of rice, which have to be stored in the warehouse for a year. We decided that we should first confer with the interpreters. Around mid-August one of Iquan Lauw’s junks arrived here from Fuzhou. It brought a high-ranking heathen priest named Ingen,1 who ranks second in the Chinese empire. He is staying in the large Chinese temple in Nagasaki. The Japanese are very concerned about him, because they do not know whether he is a fugitive, as he pretends, who is on the run from the Tartars, or a spy. It is said that the people from Nanking and Fuzhou might be doing something to harm Japan, for the defence of which seven batteries are supposedly being erected near the entrance of the bay. The priest is held in such high esteem here that even the stern Governor Yohyōe not only went to take leave of him, being a holy man, before he left for Edo but he also requested his blessing, which this priest, seated on a chair, gave to Yohyōe, who was lying face down on the floor,
15–16 Cold weather with hail showers. Nothing happened.
17 This morning Itchien, nicknamed the One-eyed Chinese, died of a lingering illness. He had managed to lengthen his mortal life by a few days, as these people say, by consuming mother’s milk. His estate, which is reputed to be worth over 200 chests of silver, will go to his brother Gickouquan,2 who is here at present.
18 Fine weather. Nothing happened.
19 I sent for the interpreters to discuss what we should do to safeguard the 1300 bales of rice, which some of the interpreters had forced upon my predecessor Happart, against fire, theft and spillage. Not all were at home and only Kichibyōe, Sukezaemon and Denbyōe came.
20 Five more of Iquan Lauw’s junks left. Today I offered Hachizaemon, who also went to the Court on the recent journey and who did his best to obtain permission for our dead to be buried on land – for which achievement Happart had promised him a proper gift as mentioned on 25 February, but which he had not been able to present to him on his departure – a paper parcel worth 50 taels of silver, which he politely refused to accept for the moment, saying that they were bound to serve the Company to the best of their abilities. Therefore he had only done his duty. But after I had been to the Court and the Company’s affairs had been concluded in a satisfactory manner, he would confer with his colleagues whether he should accept this token of our gratitude or not.
21 In the afternoon the island supervisor came with Sukezaemon to fetch a Dutch sword and a grey Dutch hat for Governor Kiemon. They asked for the price of the items. The sword belonged to one of the lower ranking members of the factory and the price was set at 6 taels, but the hat was my own and Japanese etiquette precludes asking money for it, thus it was presented as a gift to His Honour. They left but returned a short while later with the sword, which was thought to be too expensive. He kept the hat. It is almost time to fix the gifts for the Shogun and the councillors. I asked the otona for the 109 rockets which have been brought here for the Shogun and which have been given into the custody of the Japanese. He told me that they had been taken on board the Kalf by the bongiois together with the munitions on the day she set sail and had left with the ship.
22 Rainy weather. Nothing happened.
23 According to custom, I treated Bada Kurōzaemon, the island supervisor, the interpreters and their sons and their clerk to a meal. By such acts we hope to induce them to do their best in the Company’s interests, at least not harm them by being surly.
24 Fine weather. Nothing happened. My guests came to thank me for yesterday’s treat.
25 A junk left for Fuzhou. I sent the interpreters to Kiemon to find out when he thought I should set off on the court journey. I would like to begin the preparations in time. With Japanese courtesy he let me know that the date of departure was left to the discretion of the captain, but His Honour thought that a month from now would be soon enough, considering that the Shogun’s court was in mourning after the death of the Dairi, because of which the audience might be held at a late date. On the orders of the governor, Magobei will escort us to Edo, despite it being Denbyōe’s turn. Because the interpreters are getting on in years – Kichibyōe for instance has not travelled to Edo since 1650 and Denbyōe is ageing and not well regarded at Court – the governors had decided prior to Yohyōe’s departure that the son of the late interpreter Hakuzaemon, named Chūjirō, will travel to Edo with the captain. Magobei told me confidentially that Denbyōe and Sukezaemon will inform me of this on the governor’s behalf. With some experience, in time Chūjirō will be better able to serve the Company. We have something to say about this, because this person does not know any Dutch, just a little Portuguese and
26 In the morning Sukezaemon came with two bongioisen of the Lord of Kaga to fetch the cockatoo. I treated the bongioisen to wine and fruits. A short while later, while we sitting at table, Hachizaemon and Magobei came. I told them what had happened. They claimed ignorance of the matter, although I suspect that this is the reason why they came. Magobei, who is now certain that he will go to Edo, began to find fault with his absent colleague Sukezaemon. He said that his colleague’s operations were blackguardly, doing little to promote the best interests of the Company. ‘Who knows’, he continued, ‘the rockets might even have left on the Kalf because of his wicked contrivance, the more so because it was his duty to supervise the loading and unloading of that ship.’ I also learnt that Commissioner Chikugo-no-kami had written to Governor Kiemon to order the two interpreters, Hachizaemon and Magobei, to take good care of the rarities sent for His Honour and to see to it that they did not sustain the slightest damage and were brought to him in Edo. I said to them: ‘Have you not told the governor that they themselves have limited [the rarities] and that this will have to be mentioned in due course,
27 Fine weather. A junk left for Anhai. I sent a letter to Governor Cæsar in Tayouan and one to Westerwolt, opperhoofd in Siam. The contents have been noted in the copy book of letters, dated 26 instant. According to custom, the otona, two interpreters and their clerk first noted the contents of my letters so that Governor Kiemon could be informed. He has to give permission before my letters can be handed to the Chinese skipper. In the evening I was told that the letters had been handed over.
28 Same weather as yesterday.
29 In the afternoon I learnt from old Kichibyōe that Governor Kiemon had pardoned about twenty people who had been imprisoned for some minor wrongdoings and had released them from detention. They include the following merchants:
30 Unsettled weather, loud thunderclaps. Nothing happened.
December
1–4 Fine summer weather. Nothing noteworthy happened. Two junks left for China.
5 We have begun packing the gifts and other goods for our journey to Edo. The island supervisor and the interpreters did not think it wise to take the large alcatief, as mentioned on the 19th of last month, especially because when it is seen next to the Persian alcatief, it looks too modest. In future it can be sold to the Shogun or be presented as a gift. One piece of scharlaken, which had been cut in several places during the unloading and opening of the case in the trading season and which cannot be mended, has also been considered unsuitable to present to the Shogun. After the goods had been packed, the island supervisor and the interpreters told me, on Governor Kiemon’s behalf, that Chūjirō, the son of the late interpreter Hakuzaemon, will also travel with us to Edo to gain experience, as stated on 25 November. Although we do not like this, we have to show ourselves to be pleased and grateful to the governor for his concern, especially when these interpreters insist on their dignity, claiming to be the Shogun’s interpreters and having been chosen by the Nagasaki authorities. In order not to offend them, we should comply.
6–9 Fine weather. Nothing happened.
10 A cold northerly wind with rain and hail.
11 We have been preparing the goods which we shall take to Edo.
12 Fine weather. A few of the interpreters, who had not shown themselves for the entire week, came to visit us.
13 Sukezaemon informed us that the Lord of Hirado had arrived last night to finish the work on the batteries, which had been stopped for a while on account of the Dairi’s demise. His Honour had asked Sukezaemon how we were. He had told him that we were fine. The Lord sent his regards. In Japanese fashion we returned the compliments.
14 Clear weather with a north-westerly breeze. Nothing happened.
15 The Deshima supervisor and the interpreters told me that they had conferred with First Burgemeester Sakuemon on departing for Edo on the 20th day of the 11th month, which is the 27th of this month,3 which the Japanese and the heathens consider a lucky day. I paid the fees for the barge, the wages of the interpreters, the bongioisen and the Japanese servants in cash, so that everyone could go to the market. We have been forced to hire one Japanese servant more than we did in previous years. Last year he had also made the journey to Edo, but Hachizaemon had paid for him.
16 Governor Kiemon had Magobei inform me that he had learnt – I guess from the first burgemeester – that I would set off for Edo on the 20th day of the Japanese 11th month. He was pleased about this, because this was a lucky day. He would write to the Court. Cold, rainy and unsettled weather.
17 Similar weather.
18 The weather has improved. The Deshima supervisor and Sukezaemon visited me and told me that First Burgemeester Sakuemon had summoned all the heads of the streets in Nagasaki and had ordered them that they should supervise the use of fire and light carefully, to prevent any accidents happening through carelessness. His Honour was not worried about Deshima – this is an expression of Japanese courtesy – because he knew that the Dutch captains were very careful. I just happened to be composing an instruction for the Company servants remaining behind during my trip to Edo and I told both of them so.
19 Unsettled weather. We have prepared and packed all the remaining goods we need for our journey to Edo.
20 Cold weather with a northerly wind.
21 Every day the governors and other great lords, even the interpreters, indiscriminately, without caring whether we are well supplied or not, keep sending for some butter. Hachizaemon and Magobei came to tell me that a letter had arrived from the great commissioner, Chikugo-no-kami, in which he urged us to take a goodly quantity of butter to Edo, which he wanted for himself and other high officials at the Court. This will be difficult because we have a very small stock of this dairy produce. But we shall take as much as we can spare, in order not to displease the commissioner. Considering that we never have the pleasure of enjoying any of the Company’s pigeons, which are kept in several cages, on our plates, because the cats and the rats take off with the young, I have contracted with the carpenter to have a decent dovecote made, 1½ ikjes square, on four posts, for 30 taels as soon as possible. We trust that this expenditure will be balanced this year by the lower expenses for food when there are chicks.
22 Thick snow covering the mountains in many places.
23 Same weather.
24 Last night there was such a heavy snowfall that the Japanese claim that this had not happened here in twenty years. The barge which will take us to Osaka arrived in the roadstead. The interpreters and others told me that all the barges which had left this roadstead heading for Osaka 18, twenty or more days ago, were still lying around the bight of the bay waiting for suitable weather.
25 Christmas. The Deshima supervisor and Sukezaemon came to greet me on this festive day, which they are also celebrating as a holiday, because according to the Japanese all the grains and crops are reborn on this day or are made ready to produce their crops next summer.
26 Today Governor Kiemon sent Hachizaemon to ask me if everything was ready for our journey to Edo and if we would leave in two days, regardless of the weather. I replied that we were ready to leave and with his permission we would leave when the weather had improved. The interpreter promised to inform the governor. The Japanese merchant Nissie Gerobie-dono, whose [abscess] – mentioned on 10 November – has almost healed, has presented 5 schuiten of silver to our surgeon, who will also travel to Edo, as a token of gratitude for his cure and his trouble in attending to him every day. I have allowed him to keep them.
27 The weather is calming down and I sent for the skipper of the barge. I asked him if we could set off tomorrow. He told me that the water around the bight of the bay was still choppy and it would be impossible to sail. Thus we shall wait for two or three days. The Deshima supervisor and the interpreters came to ask me what requests I was planning on presenting at the Court this year. They have to inform Governor Kiemon, from whom I hope to take leave tomorrow. I told them: to leave the hatches of the ship’s holds unsealed; the export of various kinds of timber. The governors here could take some action about the short time given to us to trade,
28 The weather is improving, but we could not go to the governor, who was said to be occupied. We have to wait till tomorrow.
29 In the morning Kurōzaemon came with three interpreters. Looking happy, he told me that not only had the governor’s secretary put our requests to the governor, but Magobei had also discussed the points with the governor. The latter had promised that he would write a favourable letter to his colleague Yohyōe in Edo. I should not mention the matter when I visited His Honour to take my leave. In Edo I could remind Yohyōe of it. I got ready and went to take leave of the governor with Merchants Oetgens and Messteecker. We had little to say, just that we asked permission to leave, would he write a letter of recommendation to the Court and protect our fellow Dutchmen who stayed behind? He replied with Japanese courtesy: ‘I wish the captain a happy journey. I shall take care of the recommendation to Chikugo-no-kami and Yohyōe-sama and keep an eye on Deshima.’ Thereupon we rose and returned home.
30 I ordered the Company servants remaining behind both orally and in writing to do their duty. In the afternoon, I boarded the barge with Merchant Oetgens, Junior Merchant Hogenhouck, a surgeon, an assistant, a servant, Interpreter Magobei, the young interpreter Chūjirō, an opperbongiois, two onderbongioisen and thirty Japanese servants. We rowed to the end of the bay, where we dropped anchor off Omodaka. As usual, the Deshima otona, the interpreters and other men accompanied us with their gifts of Japanese titbits – really called sakana – and after we had presented them with a counter gift of real money, which is what they are after anyway, and had treated them to Bacchus’ tears4 according to custom, they wished us a happy journey and parted from us in the evening.
Court journey
In the barge
31 We weighed anchor before dawn, set sail and passed Seto, in the province of Ōmura in the afternoon. We dropped anchor off Kibachi.
1655
January
1 We dropped anchor a mile off the Bay of Kibachi, but when the weather worsened, we weighed anchor and were forced to put into the bay.
2 Same weather. We dared not weigh anchor.
3 We entertained our senior escort Boffij-dono and the two onderbongioisen or city servants to the best of our ability.
4 The weather settled during the night and we weighed anchor. At dawn we reached the Bay of Hirado and dropped anchor right in front of the square, where the Company lodge used to stand.
5 After sunset we sailed on an easterly offshore wind in the company of a number of barges. We dropped anchor off the village of Yobuko, in the domain of Karatsu.
6 Northerly wind with rain and hail. We had to stay here.
7 The same.
8 North-westerly wind and fair weather. We weighed anchor and sailed together with a multitude of barges, which included several merchants who had left Nagasaki eighteen to twenty days prior to us. Contrary winds had stopped them from making any progress. When the sun set, the weather changed into a flying storm, so that we were in some danger when we dropped anchor off Kajime-no-Ōshima around ten o’clock.
9 The weather calmed and the wind was south-easterly. We continued on our journey and reached Yamaga-no-misaki. We were afraid of hitting the lee shore, but we managed to reach the roadstead.
10 Westerly storm wind, bringing bitter cold, hail and snow. All the mountains are covered with snow.
11 The same weather and we dared not weigh anchor.
12 Last night it became less cold. In the morning we weighed anchor and continued. We entered the small canal on a counter-current. We could not overcome the high tide by rowing and we had to drop anchor in the middle of the canal until the tide dropped. In the afternoon we reached Shimonoseki.
13 Before dawn we set sail with a multitude of barges. The wind was westerly and the weather fine.
14 We weighed anchor. We soon passed the city and the castle of Mihara, in the afternoon Bingo and in the evening Nishidomari. In the night we dropped anchor off Muro.
15 In the morning we reached Muro, where we bought some provisions. We continued on a westerly wind and passed the castle and the city of Akashi, where the water was very choppy. At sunset we reached the large city of Hyōgo, the former residence of the Japanese Dairi, where we dropped anchor. I sent a Japanese servant to Osaka on a small vessel to announce our arrival to our landlord, Shirōemon.
Arrival in Osaka
16 In the morning we left with around 300 barges, which was an enjoyable sight. In the afternoon we reached the Osaka River, where we were met by our landlord as usual. He carried us to his house on a small vessel. We were welcomed by our Japanese friends. In the evening we went to the bath to cleanse ourselves. The Company’s goods have been unloaded and there was no damage as far as we could tell. The goods have been taken to our lodgings.
17 In the morning Shirōemon, our landlord, went to the house of Governor Matsudaira Hayato-sama to announce our arrival and to request permission to appear before him with the customary gifts. We were welcome tomorrow morning, in the afternoon he would be attending to some matters concerning the city. We prepared the gifts for him and his colleague, Tanba-no-kami, who is in Edo at present. The 270 gold koban which we had given to Yohyōe in Nagasaki were returned and we restored the silver which we had received.
18 In the morning we went to Governor Hayato-sama to greet him and present him the gifts. Next we went to the house of his colleague, where his secretary accepted the gift with the promise to notify his master, who was in Edo, by letter. Then we viewed part of the castle from the outside. It is well constructed of hard stones and the outer avenue is laid with blue arduin. We walked through a part of the city and then returned to our lodgings. We hired horses and bearers to carry us and the goods to Edo, but they would not be available before the day after tomorrow. In the afternoon, several Japanese merchants came to greet us, including an old patron, who claimed never to have seen a Dutchman in his life (Fig. 12). He looked in wonder at our dress and I was surprised by his large ears, which were more than twice the normal size.
The so-called secretary of Governor Kiemon, who is living on one of his estates in this region, also came to greet me in Japanese fashion. We reciprocated in similar manner and treated him to tent wine and sakana. I had our landlord send for one of the best women’s norimono as they are made here, according to him, so that we could order the three norimono for Bengal. But we found that it was covered with matting on the outside and the inside was just bare varnish. The costly lacquered norimono are made
19 Rainy and showery weather. At noon the grooms came to inform me that they would not be ready to leave tomorrow because some horses were still missing. We protested to the interpreter that we wished to leave tomorrow. It was to no avail, we would have to be patient. I do not think that this is the real reason, but that our escorts have not finished their private business. At the landlord’s insistence, all of us went to the bath at four in the afternoon. We spent some time there. Then we were told that the governor of the island of Amakusa, named Suzuki Saburōkurō-sama5 would visit us this evening, thus we hurried home. The governor came with a large suite. He was a young boy, 14 or 15 years old, favouring the Shogun in appearance, it is said. He spent over an hour looking at our persons, our dress and my side arms, while I treated him and his suite to wine and such. He left very pleased, expressing his gratitude – I could not be found wanting in that respect either.
20 Last night it froze hard. Our landlord ordered one hundred gowns for the fatherland and some small goods for the Nagasaki office. We prepared to continue on our journey to Edo tomorrow.
On the road between Osaka and Edo
21 Around two hours before daybreak the whole train set off. We stopped for a meal in Hirakata and around five o’clock we arrived in heavy snow and bitter cold in Miyako at the inn of Saburōzaemon, our landlord.
22 In the morning a group of lacquerers came to negotiate with me on the contract for the three norimono for Bengal. I would have preferred to deal with just two or three of the principal ones,
23 We left before dawn. We lunched in Minakuchi and slept in Sekinojizō. Heavy snowfall.
24 We passed the city of Kameyama and lunched in Ishiyakushi and reached Kuwana in the evening. The whole train embarked on five barges and we crossed over to a bay on the Southern Sea. Around eleven o’clock at night we arrived in Miya. The weather was fine.
25 At dawn we set off. We lunched in Okazaki, which has a fine castle. This place is said to have been the first stronghold of the rebel Shogun. For this reason and because of their loyalty in former times, the farmers enjoy more freedom than the other citizens of the land. We marched on and spent the night at an inn in Akasaka.
26 Before dawn we travelled on. We passed Futagawa. The shogunal pass with permission to carry the pistols and the puffers which we have brought for the Shogun past the guard post in Arai was waiting for us. No arms of any nature may pass this post without the express permission of the Court in Edo. The pass only mentioned three pistols, of which the Nagasaki Governors had been notified on my arrival. They had also been told of the puffers, but it seems that they had not written to Edo about these. On the advice of the otona and the interpreters one pistol had been left behind on Deshima because it was useless. Because as we now have four pieces of firearm with us, but the pass mentions only three, we have to leave one puffer in Arai, where we lunched,
27 We travelled on before dawn. We refreshed ourselves in Fukuroi, having crossed the Tenryū River first. We passed two fairly high mountains and arrived in Kanaya in the dark.
28 After sunrise we set off. We crossed the Ōi-gawa, which had almost run dry. It was over thirty paces wide and one-and-a-half to two feet deep. We had to spend more than usual here for being carried across. We lunched in Okabe. We passed the old city of Suruga and reached Ejiri in time.
29 We set off before sunrise, lunched in Yoshiwara, passed the foot of the Fuji-no-yama, which is the highest mountain of Japan. It was covered with snow. Around six in the evening we reached our inn in Mishima.
30 Before dawn we were marching on to the Hakone Mountains. We lunched in a village by a lake high up on the mountain. We saw four small temples or houses of priests, who beat a small gong continually. They sell strips of paper with a text written on them for a small sum of money to the passers-by. The buyers fix them with stones to the edge of the water. The souls of the deceased for whom they have bought the strips can then come there to drink water. This is a sign that these people believe in the immortality of the soul. We travelled down a difficult and rocky road. It was very cold and the entire area was covered in snow. A few times we stuck a rattan into the snow, but the stick did not touch the ground. We finally reached Odawara. We sent a servant to the landlord in Edo to announce our arrival.
31 We set off before dawn.
February
Arrival in Edo
1 We left earlier than usual so that we could reach our destination today. Around ten o’clock we reached Kawasaki, where we lunched and around three o’clock we arrived at our customary inn in the shogunal city of Edo. Our interpreter Magobei promptly went to inform Commissioner Chikugo-no-kami of our safe arrival and to ask his mediation for an early dispatch. The commissioner was very pleased. He was sorry for the inconvenience and the bitter cold we experienced during our trip. He promised to do all that he could on our behalf. He asked for my name and my age. He wanted to know what rarities we had brought for him. The interpreter had told him what he knew. Chikugo-no-kami did not say anything with regard to the presentation of gifts to the Shogun on the Japanese New Year’s day, which is on the 7th present, merely that we should set them ready. Yohyōe, the Nagasaki Governor, was at the house of the fourth councillor, Sakai Sanuki-no-kami. His secretary, Kanseimon, would tell him of our arrival on his return home. Late in the evening Chikugo-no-kami’s secretary sent us a message that his master had discussed our audience with a few councillors. Because it would be very busy at the Court on Japanese New Year, our audience had been postponed till the 15th of their month, which is the 21st present. We should prepare ourselves for that day.
2 I gave Magobei a list of everything that we had brought for Commissioner Chikugo-no-kami and of all our provisions.
3 Before noon we were busy unpacking the Dutch earthenware and cupping glasses for Chikugo-no-kami. Much of it was broken. This must have happened on the country road with the packing and unpacking of the horses. Magobei took a batch of the rarities to his house. He reported that Chikugo-no-kami had been tickled pink. With many polite words he had expressed his amazement about something, I cannot remember what. He would have been even more pleased should I have been able to provide him with some Dutch smoked meat. He was very desirous to have some, but we do not have any. Subsequently he had asked what rarities we had brought for the Shogun. Had we brought any gold lakenen? The interpreter had replied that we had not, but we had brought a few large, fine bezoar stones for the Shogun and the councillors. Chikugo-no-kami had replied that they would be much appreciated for maintaining good health, because smallpox was rife here.
4 Inoue Uneme-dono, who is married to the daughter of Chikugo-no-kami’s son, came to greet us with a rather large following. He spent three hours in my room, rummaging very impertinently through everything including my clothes and bedding. Finally, after some merry and ordinary talk and having been treated to wines and fruits – for which he showed no distaste at all – he thanked me and left. He took with him the string of red coral, some fabrics, some of my clothes and a timepiece which was lying on the table – and which Kiemon had seen yesterday – probably to satisfy the curiosity of some others. Chikugo-no-kami sent Chūjirō to fetch the Dutch earthenware, spectacles, cupping glasses, medicines, oil of turpentine, amber from which oil will be extracted, two pistols,
5 Magobei and our landlord came to inform me that they had conferred on the list we had calculated yesterday. They had found that the gift for the Shogun amounted to less than last year’s. It should be increased, because, so they said, the rules of Japanese courtesy – in my opinion dissimulation – would not allow for a decrease in such a gift. It should instead be enlarged. I replied that according to our estimate, my only finding was that I had closely followed in my predecessors’ footsteps and I had even surpassed the gifts presented by Coyett two years ago. Therefore I would like them to point out to me wherein the difference lay.
6 The measurements for the presentation trays were taken and the trays were ordered. The gifts were then stored in Chikugo-no-kami’s warehouse. The man in charge of his kitchen came to fetch some things, including Dutch salted meat. He asked whether we had brought any cow’s oil.
7 Today is Japanese Shōgatsu or New Year. Nothing noteworthy happened. Several people came to congratulate us. We properly entertained them. Magobei went to the houses of Chikugo-no-kami and Yohyōe to congratulate them on my behalf. They were not at home. He gave the message to their private secretaries.
8 Around noon a certain Jassindaijo, major-domo of Inaba Mino-sama, Lord of Odawara, came to welcome me on his master’s behalf. I treated him to wines and sakana. He looked through some of the remaining goods. He took five pieces of salempores, a piece of velvet, a piece of chela regatty, a piece of salpicados and ten pieces of Dutch earthenware, which Chikugo-no-kami had returned, to show to his master, so he said.
9 No visitors today. In the evening Magobei told me that today he had travelled more than eight miles,
10 Before noon Magobei took a few burning-glasses and spectacles to the house of Councillor Abe Bungo-no-kami. His secretary had told him that our audience has been set for the 15th of their month. This is good news, but I hope it is not just a pleasantry. Chikugo-no-kami sent to ask for some sealing wax. I obliged him. Late at night our interpreter told me that His Honour had told him that our impending audience had been discussed by the councillors and they had decided that it would take place on the 15th of the Japanese month. The commissioner had ordered him to prepare the presentation trays, which we have already ordered some days ago. He also told him that he would have liked to go hawking in his domain, but that would not be possible before we had been given our leave. Denpachirō, the son of the Nagasaki Governor Kiemon,
11 Shortly after midday, Inoue Genba-sama came with his son, Uneme-sama, and Chikugo-no-kami’s interpreter, Guinemon, and a large entourage to congratulate me on my safe arrival. I reciprocated his compliments. I treated these nobles to all the pleasantries and courtesy their station requires and entertained them with wines and titbits. His Honour asked me for my name, age and such things. He said that I would behold the Shogun’s countenance on the 15th day of their month. He thanked me for the hospitality and left. He took some rugs which he will return later or pay for. Three prominent courtiers from the palace of Chūnagon, King of Mito, came visiting me in the afternoon to satisfy their curiosity about the Dutch. I thought to entertain these noblemen in similar fashion as the others with wine and titbits, but because these men had come upstairs without the permission of our escort Boffij, he sent Chūjirō to let me know that I should not offer them anything and to prevent this he even sent the two city officials to keep watch in front of my door. Finally, after some insistence, he allowed me to pour them a cup of brandy, which they requested out of curiosity. The arrogance of our escort exceeds even their national pride to such an extent that Magobei has declared several times that he has never met anyone like him. It causes a great deal of vexation to all of us. Patience. He who has embarked with a bad man has to cross over with him. When I told our interpreter this in the evening,
12 Chikugo-no-kami asked for an itemized list with the prices of the goods and the rarities that occasionally had been fetched for him. Together with Magobei I made up the list and I principally followed Magobei’s advice. I struck a happy medium in order not to offend the commissioner, who is our advocate here. My predecessors also managed to avoid doing so. We again drew some curious visitors, I think they were two cousins of First Councillor Izu-no-kami. I entertained them for an hour and treated them properly. Genba-sama sent a servant to thank me for the hospitality he enjoyed yesterday. He brought a salted swan as a gift, which is considered a great honour in this country. I accepted the gift with a Japanese grunt and told the servant to convey my humble thanks to his lord for this undeserved great courtesy. After he had enjoyed a drink, he left. The King of Owari sent an important merchant to fetch 3 gantang of tent wine and 5 gantang of Spanish wine, 5 catties of almonds and several spyglasses and rugs. He also gaped at my clothes, as people have been doing every day. I treated him to drinks and fruits. He gulped down quite a bit. When he left, he took my clothes with him.
13 Uneme-dono, who bothers us every day under the guise of visiting us, returned the string of red coral, from which he kept thirty-six of the best beads. Chikugo-no-kami, who suffers from gravel, sent his doctor with a few medicinal books, so that our surgeon could look up a remedy to break up and pass the gravel. Furthermore, [he would like to know] what care he should take and what food he should eat, because he suffered great pains every day. So far he had not been able to find any relief from the things he had taken.
Genzō-sama and Gensuke-sama,7 the former is the son of the son and the latter the son of the daughter of Chikugo-no-kami, both courtiers and well regarded by all the nobles, came to greet me. I thanked them appropriately and entertained them. They regretted the bitter cold and the inconvenience I had suffered during my journey here both on land and on sea. I replied in Japanese fashion that the hope of seeing the Shogun’s face – for that is the way in which the interpreter expressed himself8 – had made me forget all the inconvenience. The response was a Japanese exclamation in the form of a grunt. Meanwhile they drank a dishful of tent wine and then a cup of Dutch spirits and became saucier and saucier.
14 Nothing noteworthy happened. After dark Guinemon returned some of the red coral. Genzō-sama kept thirty-three pieces of the round coral and the coral branches. He promised to pay for them later. Magobei privately went to the house of Chikugo-no-kami. On my behalf he thanked him for the use of his warehouse. His Honour asked after my health. Magobei told him that I was well. Chikugo-no-kami was pleased.
15 Genzō-sama must have felt well-treated last Saturday,9 for he returned with Sanzaemon-sama, who is held in high regard here and who is a son of Gonpachirō, the former Nagasaki Governor, and with a large number of prominent noblemen. I treated them as best as I could. They brought two children of high officials with their tutors. They looked at everything. I offered them a couple of small amber cases. After having been complimented, the party finally left, expressing their thanks. Afterwards I found Uneme-dono, who had not wanted to come up because of a fit of jealousy, with the other Dutchmen. Our interpreter went to Chikugo-no-kami to take a few spyglasses from there to Mino-sama. The old man had mentioned that the audience would be granted soon and had ordered Magobei to come for the money for the things he had taken.
16 Onis Rockrobe-dono, supervisor of Kiemon’s family, came to visit me with a few others. I entertained them. Oetgens and our surgeon Johannes Winsch, both of whom have been to the Court twice, and even the interpreter were surprised by the large number of visits, because no one can visit us without Chikugo-no-kami’s permission. This leads us to conclude that the Company’s standing must be very high. No doubt I shall be granted an audience on the 21st. I have been making up the account of the goods Chikugo-no-kami has taken through Magobei, but the continual visits and Magobei’s coming and going has prevented us from completing it. Furthermore, every day more goods are being fetched and returned and I think that this will go on till the day of departure.
17 The son of one of the Governors of Edo came with a rather large suite of young imps to visit me with Chikugo-no-kami’s permission. I treated them to tent wine and titbits. They left satisfied. Guinemon, Chikugo-no-kami’s interpreter, came to write down some remedies from Galen and Paracelsus,10 with the help of our surgeon, for breaking and passing stones.
18 Councillor Kutsuki Minbu-no-shō sent his major-domo to ask for some fine things, of which we had none. We entertained him and he left with ten salempores, our drinking glasses and the blanket off my bed to show his lord, so he said. So far the weather had been dry and fine, but in the evening it began to rain. Today is the 12th day of the 1st Japanese month. The Japanese superstitiously consider this a day suitable for medicines. Thus our escort Boffij wished to have the bezoar stones packed in the boxes in which they will be presented. This was executed, as if the stones would increase or lose their potency by doing so now or yesterday.
19 It rained the entire night and it lasted till midday. When the rain ceased, several noblemen from the Shogun’s palace came to greet me or have a look at me. I entertained them as they merited. After they had seen the Dutchmen, they left. Uneme-dono came with a 60-year-old Miyako citizen named Bouckij. He is a watchmaker by profession and came to fix a small timepiece which was somewhat out of kilter. When we were alone in my room – for otherwise it would not have been possible – he told me in Portuguese that thirty years ago he had been in Batavia and that he had been in prison now for eleven years because of the name of Our Lord, as he expressed it. Had he not been an excellent craftsman, he would have been put to death long ago. Five of them were still confined, even though they had been released from prison. They could only go out with Chikugo-no-kami’s permission and under guard, as he did now. For the same reason hundreds of others were still kept in various prisons, where they saw neither sunlight nor moonlight.
20 Early in the morning Chikugo-no-kami sent his interpreter, Guinemon, to return the two pistols sent to him on the 4th instant. A few days ago, Magobei, who is frequently to be found at His Honour’s, let slip – without my knowledge – that the pistols were meant as gifts for His Majesty. I could add them to the designated gifts. I should see to it that His Honour receive two similar ones in future. I thought this strange, because it would never have entered my mind to ask for them, let alone actually do so. Therefore I asked Guinemon to stay till Magobei, who had gone to his master to find out about the audience, had returned. He came back a short while later and I asked him about this matter. His reply was ready: yes, he had indeed spoken to Chikugo-no-kami without my knowledge. I should keep the pistols here and add them to the Shogun’s gifts. He would settle it with His Honour. Guinemon thought that Magobei had somewhat misinterpreted him and began to blather about his sincerity. He said that it was true that he owed the Company 100 taels and could not pay up,
Audience
21 Around eight o’clock I sent the gifts for the Shogun to the palace. A short while later I followed with four Dutchmen. On the way one of Chikugo-no-kami’s servants came to warn us to hurry. We passed three moats and arrived within the palace. We were led to the customary waiting hall – which is thirty-six mats in size – where we sat down. A crowd of both spiritual and worldly men came to have a good look at us. They asked our names and ages. Without any scruples, one of the most senior priests, who was dressed very curiously, asked a very silly question, namely how the Dutch could scratch themselves when they were itching, wearing such tight clothes, which differ considerably from the Japanese loose garments. One of the Dutchmen replied that for such a task the Dutch employed their womenfolk. The priest grunted in Japanese fashion. In the meantime Chikugo-no-kami and Yohyōe sat down with me and welcomed me. They said that I had to wait a while. They were very busy and left. One of the shogunal shaven-headed servants offered me the use of an inner hall to keep us away from all the onlookers and for some relief from the cold. But when I saw that it was difficult for him to open it, I politely declined the offer. About an hour and a half we had to sit there waiting. Then I heard a loud buzz and through the open sliding doors in the gallery I saw great lords passing, including the Kings of Kinokuni and Mito, the Shogun’s great-uncles. I was told that the Shogun had appeared and he was giving audience.
22 According to custom we took the gifts to the houses of Izu-no-kami, Bungo-no-kami, Uta-no-kami, Sanuki-no-kami, Sado-no-kami, Ukyō-sama, Izumo-no-kami, Bitchū-no-kami, Bizen-no-kami and Shōgen-sama. None of them was at home. I was told they were at the castle and their secretaries accepted the gifts on their behalf.
23 All the aforementioned councillors, except for Bungo-no-kami, Uta-no-kami and Sado-no-kami sent their secretaries or major-domos to congratulate me on my good fortune in having beheld the Shogun’s countenance. They also expressed their thanks for the gifts we took to them yesterday. Ukyō-sama and Izumo-no-kami sent me a few gowns, notwithstanding that the Shogun has not yet presented me with the reciprocal gift. They said that they should be used on the country road against the cold. Matsudaira Izumo-no-kami had been angry with his secretary for not having entertained us in the zashiki or inner hall when accepting the gift. He apologized for this. Japanese feigned civilities. Our surgeon spent the whole afternoon at Chikugo-no-kami’s. He had discussed how to break and pass the gravel with a Japanese so-called doctor. He had summarized several cures from various authors, which had been written down.
24 In the morning Makino Sado-no-kami sent his secretary to congratulate me on my success at the Court. The illness of one of his relatives was the reason that he had not greeted me in person two days ago, when I took the gift to his house. – What lies have I been told then, that he was in the palace! – He was grateful for the gift. The King of Mito, the Shogun’s great-uncle, sent his courtier Uneme-dono to ask for three or four large, pure, red coral beads, weighing 5–7 mas.
25 People have been fetching so much of our provisions that yesterday we ran out of butter. Now we shall have to make do with Japanese food. We are almost running out of tent wine and Spanish wine and still there is no end to those fetching it or drinking it. Several high noblemen came to congratulate me, including the Shogun’s famous painter, who came with Uneme-dono and some of his kind. I had to act the factotum in my room. In the afternoon Chikugo-no-kami sent one of his servants to inform me that the day after tomorrow I would receive permission to leave from the Shogun and his reciprocal gift, because tomorrow is the anniversary of the death of the Shogun’s father. I sent Magobei to thank our old patron for the good news.
26 Chikugo-no-kami sent a message that at the palace at eight o’clock tomorrow we would receive the reciprocal gift and our dispatch from His Majesty. It was not certain whether I would be received in person, because His Honour had not yet spoken to Izu-no-kami about it. Nonetheless we should be ready in case we were to be received in person, if not, Magobei and our landlord would take my place. He would let me know by that time. About half an hour later a fire started eastwards of our lodgings. A large number of houses burnt down.
27 Hard wind and heavy rain. Around noon my hopes of receiving a personal audience at the castle were dashed. Chikugo-no-kami sent me a message that Izu-no-kami had informed him that since the Dutch were loyal and obedient to the Japanese empire, no other orders were to be issued as had happened last year. Therefore the landlord and our interpreter Magobei could go the castle on my behalf to receive the Shogun’s reciprocal gift and our dispatch.
28 Matsudaira Izu-no-kami, Sakai Uta-no-kami and Kutsuki Minbu-no-shō sent me a few gowns as protection against the cold, together with their congratulations on our success at Court and their thanks for the Company’s gifts. As is customary, Sanuki-no-kami sent me 30 schuiten of silver. The Governors of Edo also sent me a reciprocal gift of two gowns each.
March
1 In the morning Oetgens and I
2 After sunrise Oetgens and I went to Yohyōe. We had to wait for an hour. Then His Honour appeared with a smile on his face, which is unusual when he is in Nagasaki. First we exchanged the customary compliments: he was pleased about our early dispatch from the Court and that our gifts had been accepted. I reciprocated by expressing our gratitude for his assistance at Court and also for the permission granted last year to bury our dead on land. Then I proposed to him that every year the great inconvenience of sealing our ships’ hatches in the Nagasaki roads caused us much disgrace and our masters a great loss, because while the ships are lying in the roadstead,
3 On the orders of Chikugo-no-kami, Guinemon-dono brought me a memorandum in Japanese, which his master had left behind before his departure. It was a list of the items which His Honour ordered for the Shogun and himself for next year. He wanted me to sign the memorandum as proof that I undertook to carry out the order.
Departure from Edo
On the highway from Edo to Osaka
4 Fine weather. Around nine o’clock our train left Edo. Magobei and the Japanese clerk remained behind to collect the outstanding debts owed by the nobles. Gen’emon, our landlord, the horse letters and the makers of the presentation trays accompanied us to Kawasaki. We arrived in Totsuka in the evening. Our interpreter and the clerk also arrived. Genzō-sama, Chikugo-no-kami’s son-in-law,14 who had taken the coral branch, had not been at home. His private secretary would inform his master and see to it that the money be sent.
5 We lunched in Ōiso and reached Odawara in the evening. Genzō-sama sent a sealed paper parcel with silver as payment for the large coral branch. On it was written 33 taels, but when we opened it and weighed it,
6 Via Hakone we arrived in Mishima.
7 We passed Kanbara and reached Ejiri.
8 In pouring rain we passed Okabe and reached Kanaya.
9 Through Fukuroi to Hamamatsu.
10 We crossed over to Arai. In the afternoon we reached Futagawa and in the evening Akasaka.
11 Via Chiryū to Miya. There we had to stay because of the hard wind and because the tide had ebbed.
12 We crossed over to Kuwana, where we lunched. In the evening in Ishiyakushi.
13 In the morning we encountered the first burgemeester, Sakuemon-dono, who is travelling to Edo as deputy of the Nagasaki citizens. He gave me a letter from Junior Merchant Messteecker, dated 14 February, informing me that all was well on Deshima. Furthermore, that our letters to Batavia, Tayouan and Siam of 21 January had been sent and that twenty-one junks from China had arrived in the Nagasaki roadstead. We passed Sekinojizō and arrived in Minakuchi.
14 We had to stay there till noon because of the rain. In the evening Kusatsu.
Arrival in Miyako
15 In the afternoon in Ōtsu and late in the day we arrived in Miyako at the inn of our landlord, Saburōemon.
16 Around noon a group of lacquerers came to show me the model, or one of the norimono that has to be made for Bengal. It was just the wooden carcass. We checked to see if it accorded with the measurements. It did. We were shown several pieces of gilt Japanese cloth with which it would be lined. We selected three pieces with the smallest and most curious foliage, because they said that there was no red velvet available in the whole city. Should some red velvet become available, we advised them to line one of the norimono with this and they should make them curiously and beautifully of the best raised lacquerware, just as we had agreed upon,
17 Fine weather. We sailed down the river on five barges and at four in the afternoon we arrived in Osaka.
In Osaka
18 As in Miyako, several merchants came to congratulate us on our success at Court. Magobei asked the landlord whether the merchants who on our outward journey had promised us a sample of the sheet-copper were in the city. He said they were and expected to see them tomorrow with the sample. I had everything prepared for our journey by sea in the hope of leaving the day after tomorrow.
19 Rainy weather. At sunset several copper merchants came to our lodging. They brought two samples of sheet-copper. It was too late and we decided to inspect the two sheets tomorrow.
In the barge
21 Fine weather in the morning. We set sail and dropped anchor off Hyōgo in the evening.
22 We set sail around midnight. We passed Akashi and anchored off Muro, where we had to stay because of the rain.
23 We weighed anchor in the evening and we continued our journey in the light of a clear moon.
24 The adverse wind and counter-current impeded our progress and we anchored off the round mountain.
25 Quiet, but the current was favourable. We rowed on and reached Bingo-no-Tomo, where the Japanese wished to refresh themselves, even though none of them was suffering from scurvy.
26 We set sail on an easterly breeze. In the evening we dropped anchor off Yokoshima.
27 Last night when the moon rose we set sail again. Wind and current were not in our favour and we dropped anchor off Kamuro at sunset.
28 We passed Kaminoseki on an easterly breeze. It veered at midday and we had to drop anchor off Mukōshima.
29 In the morning an easterly wind. We arrived in Shimonoseki.
31 We passed the small channel and dropped anchor just outside near a small island to wait for a fair wind.
April
1 Around eight o’clock in the morning we rowed away and in the afternoon we were forced to drop anchor off Ashiya, a hamlet situated in the domain of Saigoku, where no Dutchman has ever been before.
2 A strong southerly and south-westerly wind. Because we have run out of Japanese sakana and we are afraid of having to wait here long because we need an easterly or north-easterly wind to proceed and also because we did not wish to offend our bongiois who has politely offered us the possibility of travelling over land to Nagasaki, especially because the offer of travelling over land from Shimonoseki in case of contrary wind has been made to my predecessors many times in Edo, I decided to try this out. Thus Magobei and an onderbongiois went ashore to investigate. On their return an hour and a half later they reported that there were enough horses and everything would be ready by tomorrow. But it would take four days to travel to Nagasaki and the road would be almost impassable in rainy weather. But we agreed to have preparations made. But as soon as we had decided on this, the wind veered and began to blow from the east and we changed our minds. We saw many barges from Shimonoseki sail past. We could not get out of this harbour because it was only fifty feet wide and there was not enough water. The sailors had also gone to fetch water with the boat. Thus we sadly had to watch the barges sail past and wait for the boat to return. Then we weighed anchor and rowed on and finally we managed to get out.
3 Before sunrise we left on a stiff north-westerly breeze. We passed Hirado in the afternoon and at ten o’clock at night we reached Seto. Today we covered a distance which took us twelve days on our outward journey.
Arrival in Nagasaki
4 We set sail and in the afternoon we arrived in the roadstead of Nagasaki. We went ashore and were back on Deshima. We found all well and everything in order. During our presence at the Court or elsewhere in this empire, no mention has been made to date of an ambassador who should come to congratulate His Majesty on his new government. We hope that they will keep quiet about this and that the Company will be excused from this excessive expenditure. The most important events that happened here during my absence as noted down by Junior Merchant Messteecker are the following:
At various times seventeen junks arrived from Anhai and five from Fuzhou. Their cargoes have been noted at the end. One of the junks had foundered off the Gotō Islands and another one off Satsuma. The crew and the goods have been brought to Nagasaki on Japanese barges. Eleven of the aforesaid junks have departed.
5 Rainy weather. Magobei went to Kiemon-dono and I have received permission to appear before His Honour tomorrow.
6 In the morning I went to Kiemon-dono’s house. He welcomed me. I thanked him for his recommendation, which had not only promoted that I had been granted an early audience, but also that Yohyōe had almost as good as promised me on my departure from Edo that we would be allowed the export of timber and that the ships’ hatches would be left unsealed in future. He would discuss it with His Honour when he returned to Nagasaki.
7–8 Fine weather. On behalf of the governor, our otona, Sukezaemon and Kichibyōe’s son came to urge me to be very careful with fire and light. The same order had been issued throughout the city, because the governor would be travelling to Amakusa for a few days. I promised to be careful and thanked the governor for his care.
9 Nothing noteworthy happened. Today is the 3rd day of the 3rd Japanese month. On this day women are allowed to go out and enjoy themselves and look for shells on the beach. This happens twice a year: on the 3rd day of their 1st month and today.
10–13 Variable weather. Nothing noteworthy happened.
14 The purveyor of poultry has complained several times during my absence and on my return that he cannot continue to supply us with poultry as he has done for the past two years at the price set by the otona of 1 mas each – although this had been 12 candareens previously.
15 The fence on the eastern side of the island, which had been set up and kept on the Shogun’s account, has completely dilapidated and the landlords have renewed it.
16–17 Heavy rain and southerly winds.
18 Sunshine and a cold northerly wind. Nothing happened.
19 Pleasant weather with a southerly wind. Kiemon-dono has returned from Amakusa. As is the custom in Japan, I sent Hachizaemon and Magobei to welcome him. I gave ten pieces of sealing wax, which Chikugo-no-kami had asked for in Edo, to Magobei.
21 Magobei told me that Kiemon-dono, who has a reputation of being a kind-hearted man, had [the head of] one of his servants – in fact the man who prepared his tea – chopped off. The reason for this was that this man had been slow to respond to the command of a bugger boy and for this the latter had discredited him with his master.
22 Fine weather with a northerly breeze. Nothing happened.
23 Two bongioisen, one of Kiemon-dono and the other of the Lord of Hirado, brought two noble children to enjoy themselves on the billiard table and in the garden. They were properly entertained. Afterwards I learnt that they were the children of Hirado’s wife and brother.
24 In the afternoon it rained with a south-easterly breeze. Nothing happened.
25 Hachizaemon reminded me of the 50 taels which I had promised him, as has been mentioned on 20 November. He wants to spend a few days at the hot baths in Arima to improve his health.
26–27 Nothing happened.
28 Sukezaemon told me that construction of the seven batteries, which have been mentioned several times before, has been finished by the Lord of Hirado yesterday. Today they were handed over to Governor Kiemon on behalf of the Shogun. Four batteries are situated level on the eastern side of the bay and three on the western side. It is said that the Lord of Hirado has paid around ten chests of silver for the work, in spite of labour being cheap. When required, the cannon will be placed on top of them.
29–30 Cold, inclement weather. Nothing happened.
May
1 Last night, without my knowledge, the subordinates erected a couple of maypoles outside my window. This has been done several times in the past. When the governor saw them, he sent the otona, Denbyōe and Sukezaemon to ask for the meaning of this.
2–3 Warm, summer weather with southerly winds. Nothing happened.
4 Today the maypoles were removed. We let them stand this long on the advice of the interpreters to avoid arousing the governor’s suspicion that they were a religious superstition by removing them hurriedly.
5–8 Fine weather with southerly winds. Nothing happened. The repairs to the warehouses are progressing smoothly.
9 Hachizaemon returned from his trip to Arima last night. He had gone to greet Governor Kiemon and he told me that there were still discussions going on in Edo about the pancado of the Chinese white raw silk. The Nagasaki burgemeester Sakuemon, who had seen the Shogun’s countenance, was waiting for the decision.
10 Today we went out for a walk under the guise of looking for herbs. This really does not amount to much, because we do not walk through the main streets of Nagasaki, which we can see from on top of the mountains, but along the worst part of the city up to the mountain, where we enjoy a meal in a temple. From there we are led straight back to Deshima. Our escorts are two common soldiers from the governor’s guards, who are given the title of onderbongioisen, for whose sake, it is said,
11–12 Heavy rain with strong southerly winds.
13 Fine weather with a north-westerly wind. I went on an inspection tour around the island to admonish those landlords who are found wanting to carry out the necessary repairs to the warehouses and living quarters.
14–16 Variable weather, nothing happened.
17 Sukezaemon told me that the governor has allowed several Chinese to leave. Five of Coxinga’s junks are loading at present to be ready to sail to Fuzhou and Anhai at the first opportunity. I intend sending a letter to Tayouan in spite of Magobei’s opinion that it will not be delivered but thrown overboard.
19 Heavy rain with a south-easterly wind.
20 North-westerly wind, the weather more pleasant.
21 Three junks set sail to Fuzhou.
22 Another of Coxinga’s junks set sail to Anhai. Like the other three junks it is loaded with cotton wadding, hemp cloth and knickknacks. I shall send a letter to Tayouan with the last junk, which is now loading and whose skipper is a civil man, according to Magobei. In the afternoon the interpreters and the otona came to Deshima on the orders of the governor to await his private secretary who was on his way to us. They did not know the reason. They told me that news had come from Edo that the Shogun had abolished the pancado of the Chinese white raw silk. He had done this after much deliberation on account of the complaints of the Japanese merchants, as I mentioned on 16 March. They had requested to be allowed to pay less than last year’s pancado for the 1300–1400 piculs of silk imported by the Chinese and Coxinga’s junks in particular. They claimed that 200 chests of silver would not compensate them for the loss they would suffer. The Court had frowned at this request because this order had been issued fifty years ago by Ōgosho-sama,15 the Shogun’s great-grandfather, and had been enforced by Taitokuin-sama16 and Daiyūin-sama17 and the present Shogun18 to this day. The merchants had derived great profits from this measure and now that it happened that they might gain little or suffer some loss at worst they came to seek redress at Court without any reason or right. But measures would be taken to solve their problem. However, the Chinese, who had come here to sell their silk in the usual way in the pancado, should not be made to suffer on account of this.
23 At sunrise the same gentlemen came accompanied by the Shogun’s intendant, Heizō. They inspected other attics for storage of the silk. They selected five. The interpreters told me that the governor had been very pleased when they relayed my concerns about His Majesty’s silk to him last night. We can tell that this is true, seeing that yesterday the secretaries chose a warehouse in a grandiose manner without consulting us and now they have to select others instead. They left without wishing to partake of any refreshments. About an hour later the otona and Sukezaemon – who had been summoned by Kiemon-dono – came to inform me that the silk will be delivered to our auction house where it will be weighed. The Chinese will be given instructions not to venture beyond that place. We should also obey the Shogun’s mandate not to have any intercourse with these people – which the difference in language already precludes. I sent for all the subordinates and in their presence I instructed them not to go anywhere near the auction house for whatever reason.
24 Fine weather with a southerly wind. 280 piculs of silk have been weighed.
25 345 piculs have been weighed.
26 380 piculs have been weighed. The governor has informed the Chinese that they have to leave as soon as the silk has been delivered and has been paid for. Should the southerly wind prevent them from sailing, they can anchor below the islands at the end of the bay and wait there for a favourable wind. I had invited the three burgemeesters, who supervise the delivery of the silk, to some refreshments in our garden. They could not accept the invitation and I sent some wine and sakana to the auction house.
27 Around ten o’clock the governor came to have a look at the weighing of the silk. By the time I had been told and had gone downstairs to greet him, he had already left. In all, 1316 piculs of white raw silk have been delivered against 541,536 taels [specified prices for three grades]. In spite of the prices for the first and second grades each being 20 taels per picul higher that those the Company receives and for the third grade being 30 taels per picul higher, the Chinese are nonetheless unhappy because they had to give a bonus of 2 catties on each weighing and when it appeared that the silk was inferior in the eyes of the Japanese,
28 Last night there was a gale from the south with rain which lasted till midday. Then the storm abated. They began to sort and weigh the silk.
29 Fair weather with a southerly breeze. They continued to sort the silk. This is being done in the quarters of the incoming opperhoofd. Every day three Nagasaki burgemeesters and one each from Osaka and Miyako attend the proceedings, during which we treat them to wine and sakana to nourish their goodwill towards the Company.
30 As before.
31 Westerly wind, the weather clear. No silver has been brought as yet to pay for the silk bought by His Majesty. It is said that on the 22nd instant, the same day that the news arrived here about the abrogation of the pancado, hayafune or fast vessels had left Osaka with the silver. Orders have been issued all along the route that wherever these hayafune anchored, they should be given all the assistance they might need, on penalty of severe punishment. Weather and wind permitting, the silver is expected here any day. As far as the Chinese are concerned, news had been dispatched to Edo about their stay or departure, while the monsoon is here. A reply is expected soon.
June
1 The Chinese are selling their piece-goods. Kichibyōe, the oldest interpreter, whom I had not seen since my trip to Edo because of his poor health, came today to congratulate me on my performance at Court, so he said.
4–5 Rather cold. Many people are saying that the duration of the cold has not been as long as this for many years.
6 In order to retain the governor’s goodwill towards the Company, I treat the burgemeesters, who supervise the sorting of the Shogun’s silk here on the island, apart from the first burgemeester, Sakuemon-dono, who has not yet returned from Edo, to wine and sakana every day. I also go there personally to greet them every other day, sometimes more often, for it is a fact that everything that goes on here during the day is reported to the governor in the evening. In confirmation of the abominable and lecherous nature of the Japanese, of which mention has been made before, I cannot refrain from relating what just happened. This morning I sent my servant or rather our table attendant to the burgemeesters with some brandy, Spanish wine and sakana in view of the cold, unpleasant and rainy weather. I also sent them my regards, for I had been to see them yesterday. Without any embarrassment and in a most shameful manner, which for decency’s sake I find impossible to describe on paper, they tried to find out by pointing and questioning him, whether young buggers were kept in Holland and if this practice was carried out with impunity, as in Japan. This servant had replied – there was one among them who understood some Portuguese – that in our country such abomination was punished by burning at the stake. Whereupon these Japanese men smiled derisively and wondered how it was possible that the Dutchmen could control their carnal desires without resorting to this practice, for they had not heard of any whores visiting Deshima.
7 Fine summer weather with southerly wind. Nothing happened.
8 The long expected silver, consisting of 550 chests of silver to pay for the silk which His Majesty has bought, has finally arrived here safely on two barges, escorted by nine hayafune, seven kobaya and some smaller vessels.
9 Today is the 5th day of the 5th Japanese month, Gogatsu gonichi, an age-old holiday commemorating a victory won against the Chinese, who had sought to conquer the country with a great army, but who had perished through divine intervention with thousands of junks between Hirado and Yobuko. It is also celebrated to commemorate the end of the Osaka War, which ended on this day with the Shogun victorious. And lest anyone forget, every house which has sons flies as many flags as there are sons. The Chinese have also been celebrating since the beginning of this month, that is for five days, with a multitude of vessels sailing in the sea. Some of the rowers are dressed in red, some in blue and others in white. The vessels are decorated with pennants and greenery and they keep shouting ‘Pelope’,19 whose meaning is explained by the interpreters in various ways.
10–11 Three of the Shogun’s confidants
12 The baker has been making the bread that he bakes for the Company too light by one-sixth and sometimes even more. I have reproached him for this several times and today I sent for him. I told him that if he does not care to make the bread of the appropriate weight of 6.5 taels each and one hundred for 1 tael of silver, we would find someone else who would. He offered a feeble excuse, claiming that the price of wheat had been rather high for some time and he would pay better attention in future. In order to prevent any further occurrence of being sold short I ordered the dispenser in his presence that they both should weigh the bread when it was delivered every day and to make a note of the weight. He could bake the bread as light or as heavy as he wished, but we would pay him 1 tael of silver for 405/8 catties of bread, according to contract. In this way the Company would not be cheated.
14 The Chinese who have been paid for their silk and who have been told to leave have remonstrated with Governor Kiemon that it is impossible. His reply was that it was the Shogun’s order and they have to leave the city and the roadstead. They could remain at the end of the bay below the islands there and wait for favourable weather. They should be ready at the first spring tide.
15–17 Fine weather with southerly winds. We received news that the new Dairi has been inducted in his city on 18 May and orders have been issued throughout the empire to use his reign mark from now on. Magobei told me that several copper merchants had asked him whether the Company would be buying any copper this year. He had told them that he was not certain but he expected that it would be the same as last year. Magobei said that we could wait for a month before buying any copper or camphor because more and more of these commodities are arriving in the city every day. But there is no news about the sheet-copper, mentioned on 20 March, from which we conclude that they are not interested.
18–20 The sorting of the packs of silk has come to an end. 1362 packs of 50 catties each
21 The barges transporting the silk have left for Osaka. Several junks have sailed to the roadstead.
22 The same.
23–24 Fine summer weather. Several junks have sailed to the roadstead where they are taking on their cargoes.
25 Veering winds. Our island supervisor, the interpreters and their sons have been invited to dinner. We treated them to kid meat.
26 Our guests came to thank me for yesterday’s treat.
27–28 Fine weather. Nothing happened.
29 Governor Yohyōe has returned from Edo. He was welcomed in a very stately way in this country’s manner by the Lord of Hirado and other noblemen, who arrived for this purpose two days ago, so it is said. It started to rain in the evening.
30 An easterly storm blew accompanied by rain. Nonetheless, Denbyōe and Sukezaemon, who were awaited by Hachizaemon and Magobei at the gate and by Kichibyōe at the governor’s house, announced that they would go to Governor Yohyōe to welcome him on my behalf. They went as soon as the rain stopped. Shortly after, Hachizaemon and Magobei came to tell me that Yohyōe-dono had been pleased and had said that he would like to see the captain in three or four days. In the afternoon the weather cleared and the wind veered south-westerly. The Chinese have been remonstrating with Governor Kiemon that it is impossible for them to sail at this time of year, for the wind keeps blowing from the south. Even should they be able to sail in the morning when an offshore wind blows from the north for a couple of hours, when they were out at sea they would not be able to make any progress but they would be forced to sail back to Japan;
July
1 Fine weather. Nothing happened.
2 The governor’s secretaries came to inspect the Shogun’s silk to see whether the rats had caused any damage. To prevent this, the attics where the silk is stored will be covered with fine, sturdy boards. Today they started on this work. This is a sign that the silk will not be removed in the near future.
3 Nothing happened.
4 A junk arrived from Nanking. This is the first vessel arriving here on the present southern monsoon. Its cargo consists of medicines and some knickknacks. It has been unloaded and beached.
5–6 Fine summer weather. In the morning the wind blows from the north, but in the afternoon it veers southerly.
7 The Lord of Arima arrived in Nagasaki to welcome Governor Yohyōe. The interpreters went to ask his secretary whether we could also greet the governor personally. The reply was that it was not possible today, but tomorrow it would be convenient.
10–12 Summer weather. Four of Coxinga’s junks have arrived in the roadstead. They did not bring any white raw silk.
13 The Shogun’s silk has been temporarily stored in other godowns so that the walls of the attics can be covered with sound boards. A few of the Company servants went to the other side of the bay with the governors’ permission to inspect the sampans which will be put to water at the next spring tide. The sampans had not been damaged, just some seams had opened in a few places through the heat of the sun. The carpenter will repair them.
14 It has been one year since I left Batavia to come here.
15 Fine summer weather with a southerly breeze. One of Coxinga’s junks arrived in the roadstead. Burgemeester Sakuemon has finally returned from Edo. I learnt that the Chinese white raw silk is being sold at 530 taels a picul in Miyako.
16 Variable winds, overcast. Before my trip to Edo I had given the carpenter who ordinarily works for the Company on Deshima, 100 taels of silver on the recommendation of the island supervisor to purchase seasoned timber from which he should construct sturdy money and copper chests of one size. My intention was to prevent any thefts of the Company’s silver by weighing the full chests of silver on the daats and shipping them off to the masters and the merchants. The carpenter had promised to supply the chests in time.
17 A junk arrived from Anhai. We have learnt that the Shogun’s silk had arrived in Osaka Castle. It had been stored in a newly-prepared warehouse.
18–20 Strong southerly and south-westerly winds. It is now high tide and the four sampans have been put to water. The warehouses have been cleaned. The interpreters told me that the Chinese are selling their sugar at 88 mas per picul.
21–22 Continuation of the southerly and westerly winds, with hazy skies. Showers. Nothing happened.
23 It is time to begin thinking of buying copper and camphor. Yesterday I sent for Magobei and he came today to discuss this. I urged him to attend to the purchase of both species. We had resolved to buy 2000 piculs of copper and 200 piculs of camphor at a fair price before the arrival of the ships, which we are expecting any day now.
24 The otona and the interpreters, with the exception of Denbyōe, came in the morning. I proposed to them, as I had done to Magobei yesterday, to purchase 2000 piculs of bar-copper and 200 piculs of camphor at a fair price before the ships arrive. They told me that a quantity of copper and one of the merchants, named Egunia Mangabe, were already in Nagasaki.
26 The Lord of Karatsu’s goods have been aired and stored back in the warehouse. The Shogun’s silk has also been returned to its former storage.
27–28 It is so hot and sultry that no one cares to go outside. No interpreters came.
29 Because the heads of the five shogunal cities, under whose supervision the Company’s trade has always been conducted, will not come this year as the pancado has been abrogated, the otona and the interpreters are worried about who will be responsible for the proceedings. They asked us how we wished to trade so that we would not be made to suffer losses should any merchant refuse to accept the goods he had bought which would force us to auction them a second time. We replied that we had traded here in Nagasaki for fourteen years now under the supervision of the governors and it had always gone well. We relied on the governors to take care of it. They decided to confer and to put it to the governors in due time. Two piculs of Chinese white raw silk have been brought here in contravention of Coxinga’s orders. Five hundred and twenty taels a picul have been offered for it, but it has not been sold yet. The Chinese man who took our letter to Tayouan last year has returned. He said that he had delivered it and that the Company has contracted for 200 piculs of raw silk for which it will pay with the first silver that arrives there from Japan, but he does not know the price.
31 The otona, three old and two new interpreters came. They brought three copper merchants, of whom Egunia Mangobe is the most important. When we told them that we wished to purchase 2000 piculs of copper at a fair price before the ship’s arrival, he began a long discourse on the low yield this year and that it could not be sold at last year’s price. We replied that they could easily pull the wool over our eyes, for we are kept in prison here, but that did not matter. They wanted to sell something and should calculate at what price they wanted to sell and we would offer them a price at which we are willing to buy. They gave a quote of 13 taels per picul. We said that we could offer a bid of 7 taels, but bargaining in this way would be wasting precious time and this was not the Dutch way. They gave a quote of 12 taels. We replied that it was still too much and offered them 10 taels per picul, on the Company’s daats and payable when the Company had money in its cash box. After some discussion they said that they would confer and would let us know their decision via the interpreters. A junk from Anhai has arrived.
August
2 Chūjirō has finally died of his wasting disease and the Company has been relieved of this future ballast.
3 A strong southerly wind bringing rain, for which the dry earth has been thirsting.
4 Our island supervisor and Sukezaemon came. I urged them to find out whether the copper merchants had reached a decision. They promised they would so so.
5 One of Coxinga’s junks arrived in the roadstead. At first we suspected that it hailed from Siam or Cambodia, because twice it fired twelve times, which is exceptional, but later we learnt that it sailed from Anhai twenty days ago, but on its way here it had been becalmed. This leads us to think that this is the reason that none of the Company’s ships has appeared thus far.
6 The otona and the interpreters announced that they had spoken to the copper merchants but that they insisted on 12 taels a picul.
7 Two junks from Anhai arrived.
8 Nothing happened.
9 Shichibei, the young interpreter, informed me that Kiemon’s secretary had told him that the governor had received tidings that a Dutch sail had been spotted but that it was still far out at sea. I would be told when the ship approached. I also heard that Shirōemon, our Osaka landlord, has arrived. In the evening the wind veered northerly, but according to the Japanese it was dead calm out at sea.
10 Two junks from Anhai arrived.
11 Two more junks arrived from Amoy. They had been underway for twenty days, but they had not seen any Dutch sails. Thus the tidings we received two days ago must have referred to these junks. Nonetheless, the Chinese claim that a Dutch ship from Batavia had arrived in Tayouan.
13 Same weather. Nothing happened.
14 Last night at sunset it started to rain. In the afternoon it dried up and on a westerly wind one of Coxinga’s junks arrived in the roadstead.
15 A dispatch boat arrived on a fresh westerly wind with the news that a white sail had been spotted at sea. But because the governors were not at home, we could not receive confirmation. The otona and the interpreters came to rejoice with us. They said that the people in the city were jubilant about the arrival of our ships. However, sadly our hope was dashed when instead of a ship one of Coxinga’s junks carrying a top sail arrived in the roadstead.
16 Last night a junk from Patani arrived. Like the ones before it had been becalmed at sea, on account of which it had been underway forty-five days. The Chinese are spreading the rumour that three Dutch ships had taken five of Coxinga’s junks and one junk from Cambodia. Nobody believes this. Today is the seventh Japanese full moon and the third day of their Bon Festival or Feast of the Dead. For three days these heathens, both men and women, go to the graves of their deceased in the evening to offer them water and rice. In order to see their graves better – we think – they place a candle or lamp in a paper lantern, which some of them let burn for 10– 11 hours. This presents a marvellous sight, because the graves are situated up on the mountains.
18 Another of Coxinga’s junks has arrived from Amoy.
19 Yesterday it was a year to the day that I arrived here from Batavia on the Kalf and found two ships, from Siam and Tayouan, in the roadstead. Every day junks arrive but none of the Company’s ships. This is very distressing, especially because there are just two months left till the day of my departure. May the good Lord grant that they arrive safely. The entire city of Nagasaki is upset about the late arrival of the ships. The governors have been asking the interpreters every day whether the captain has an explanation for this. This shows that they are very concerned, but so far they have not ordered the interpreters to put this question to me on their behalf. The interpreters cannot walk the streets without being stopped and questioned about the cause of this delay. The people wonder whether any Dutch ships will arrive this year. Our otona and the interpreters have even gone to their priests or sorcerers to ask why the Dutch ships are so late. These priests had said – so Sukezaemon told me –
20 A junk from Quinam, with top sails and studding sails, arrived in the roadstead.
21 Another junk arrived from Quinam. I learnt that both junks belong to Coxinga. The governors sent three interpreters to show me a dried leaf, which had served as a mark on a package. Six to eight Moorish letters or characters had been written on it with ink. They asked if we could read it and what kind of writing it was. When we told them that we could not read it but thought that it was Moorish writing, it was all right. The governors had thought that it was Portuguese and had this indeed been the case, both the people and the goods on the junk on which it was found, would have been in dire straits and their mates would have to face insufferable problems.
22 Fine weather.
Arrival of the Arnemuiden
23 At eight o’clock in the morning the governors had the interpreters inform us that they had received tidings of a Dutch ship out at sea. We could send a barge. I promptly sent two Dutchmen with a letter of instruction not to contravene any of the Japanese orders. But the ship was still far out to sea and they only reached her in the evening. Around midnight they were back in the lodge. They told me that it was the yacht the Arnemuiden, dispatched by Governor Cæsar from Tayouan or the Pescadores, where she took on her cargo.
24 The interpreters came to note the following news for the governors who will send it to Edo, namely the peace between our nation and the English, the foundering of the flute the Lam, which had been sent here last year, and the Vrede. We had already received news of the loss of the other two ships last year. No white silk had been carried to Tayouan, therefore we cannot expect any from there or from Tonkin because of the low profits. Pernambuco in Brazil has been taken from us by the Portuguese. The Arnemuiden reached the roadstead in the afternoon in spite of a fresh sea wind blowing off the islands. I went on board and mustered the crew. The ordinance with the rules and regulations which everyone has to follow was read out and affixed. It is incredible how happy the Nagasaki population was with the arrival of this ship. The Japanese priests have hit the nail right on the head with their prediction mentioned on the 19th. This strengthens them even more in their heathen superstitions.
26 Because we have not been able to obtain any copper so far and the Arnemuiden needs to be ballasted, we decided to load the 1300 bales of rice left over from last year. The governors gave permission to do so.
27 Same weather, nothing happened.
28 Kichibyōe came to congratulate me that from now on the warehouses – with the exception of those in which the rayskins, the calambac and the rarities are kept – will no longer be chopped by the bongioisen. But to prevent any thefts by the Japanese, the otona, the landlords and the interpreters will lock them. We could enter whenever we wished. He had also heard that Yohyōe understood our reasons and motives presented to him on 2 March in Edo for leaving the ships’ hatches unsealed and he agreed with us,
29 Wind and weather as yesterday, but dead calm during the night.
30 The Arnemuiden has brought me a copy of a letter of the Governor of Tayouan, the original of which he sent to me via China on 26 January. On the basis of this I have told Shirōemon, our Osaka landlord, that he should supply us with 400 sugi boards at a moderate price, which we would like to ship this season. Today he informed me that he had none in supply and it was too late to order any, because the Japanese do not use these boards, but they are sawn when the Company orders them. The interpreters promised to ask around. Every day several barges arrive from Osaka arrive here bringing copper, but the main merchants have not come yet. Magobei told me that this is the reason why we cannot reach a final price. Overcast with a faint northerly wind. More priests of Baal came to visit us. Like the previous ones they left satisfied without having wetted their lips.
31 The weather is changing. Veering winds with thunder and showers.
September
Arrival of the Zoutelande
1 Last night there were some showers, but during the day it was dry. A junk from Anhai arrived. Around ten o’clock the governors let us know that a Dutch ship had been spotted off Iōshima.
2 It has been raining since last night and there was a strong northerly wind, so that we could not begin unloading the Zoutelande until the afternoon. In the morning Magobei told me that Isummia Niemon had arrived at last. He had spoken to the principal copper merchants last night, but they were as adamant as ever. Five merchants, among whom Isummia Niemon and Egunia Mangobe were the most important, came with the otona and the interpreters. In the presence of Merchants Oetgens and Thijmonsz we wasted a great many words. We raised our bid to 107 mas, but they would not go below 12 taels.
3 Last night two junks arrived from Anhai and one from Fuzhou. We have been unloading the Zoutelande. In the evening there was just a batch of spices left.
4 The yacht is now empty.
5 A few days ago another priest like the one mentioned on 14 November arrived from China. Both these priests of Baal came to look at us with a large suite of their followers. The first one has been given permission to travel to Miyako. He will leave shortly. In the evening the copper merchants came. The interpreters and we thought that we could conclude a deal today. We offered them 111 mas, but they insisted on 114 mas. Thus we parted company without having reached an agreement. Magobei advised us to accept their price if we wanted to buy any copper. He is afraid that the large number of Chinese and their eagerness to buy will increasingly hinder us.
6 Sukezaemon came to ask whether any of the other interpreters had come to me about the copper negotiations. I told him that Magobei had been to see me, but he had not mentioned the copper. Sukezaemon advised me to stick to my bid of 111 mas. He believes that they will give it for this price after two or three days. I intend to wait and see. Not a single catty of camphor has been brought here from Satsuma. The interpreters are expecting a good batch shortly.
7 Last night and today rain with a north-easterly offshore wind. Magobei told me that the lacquerers had arrived
8 In the morning the governors let us know that the Lord of Hakata would go on board to view the ships. Afterwards he would come to Deshima. We should have the place cleaned. His Highness came around midday after he had viewed the Arnemuiden from the inside and out. First Burgemeester Sakuemon accompanied him. He had a quick look at my house, the garden, the billiard table and the pall-mall. Without eating anything he left. Northerly wind with showers.
9 Dry and clear weather with a northerly wind. Nothing happened.
10 The same.
11 Sukezaemon told me that eight or ten days ago a Chinese junk had foundered off Hirado. The Japanese patrol barge had gone to find out whence it came and whither it sailed. They had said that they came from Nanking and were bound for Nagasaki. One of the Chinese merchants had to transfer to the barge as hostage and the junk would be guided here by the barge. Adverse winds drove the junk out to sea and they lost sight of it during the night. The merchant and the barge arrived here last night. In spite of just two ships having arrived so far, Burgemeester Sakuemon approved last night – Sukezemon told me this in confidence – that we should request the governors for permission to begin trading as there are just thirty-eight days left till the 20th day of the 9th Japanese month. Although the burgemeester expected our request to be refused with a Japanese compliment, because just two ships have arrived and three more are expected with the incoming captain,
12 The interpreters and the otona came and I proposed the aforementioned to them. They decided to confer with Burgemeester Sakuemon and they would communicate his opinion to me. Next they told me that they had urged the copper merchants to come to an agreement with me and end this dragged-out haggling. When the merchants came, we had some discussions, but finally they accepted our offer of 111 mas for a picul of refined bar-copper with the chests and weighed on the Company’s daats. They will deliver 2000 piculs at first and subsequently as much as the Company needs or they have in store. Magobei went to the house of the governors to obtain permission for delivery. Yohyōe readily gave permission for this and also for delivery of the three norimono for Bengal. The otona and the other interpreters went to Sakuemon to ask his advice about requesting permission to open trade. He told them that Yohyōe had informed him that we had reached an agreement with those stubborn copper merchants. To prevent the governors presuming that he had thought up this request, he thought it better to wait for three or four days before presenting it. Although he did not expect that the governors would be willing to open trade before the arrival of the new captain, it would be considered a Japanese compliment.
Arrival of the Vlieland
13 Shirōemon, our Osaka landlord, came to inform me that a few days ago he had sent orders there to have 500 sugi boards and 100 hinoki boards sawn, but he doubted whether they could be brought here in time to ship them away on these ships. Well into the day the governors sent a message that a Dutch ship had been spotted between the Gotō Islands and this shore. We could send a barge with two or three Dutchmen to get confirmation of this. The men returned in the evening and reported that it was the yacht the Vlieland which had sailed from the Pescadores on 19 August. She arrived a short while later. Her cargo consists of deerskins and elk hides, sugar and four cases of lakenen, worth 56,661 guilders. The interpreters noted down the contents and took it to the governors. In his letters of 14 August Governor Cæsar notified me that this was the last ship from Tayouan in this season. The Company had suffered more damage on account of the Tayouan channel through the loss of eight Dutchmen and a lot of commodities when two loading junks capsized. What a misery that this churning roadstead claims the lives of Christians every year.
14 In the morning I mustered the crew. The master and the other friends told me that they had encountered two storms during the voyage, but they had not lost anything. We began to unload. Just 400 bundles could be stored in their proper places. The rest had to be stowed here and there in the lower galleries, because the Shogun’s silk has been stored in the attic of the warehouse designated for this and when it was locked by the bongiois at that time, he took away the wrong key. This caused us a lot of trouble. It was already late at night before they had smashed the lock and had replaced it. The bongiois also took this key away. We have been taking delivery of the bar-copper. We received more than 800 piculs of very fine copper. The wind has been blowing from the south all day and two junks from Patani and Quinam arrived in the roadstead.
15 Downpours since last night with gusts of wind from the west and the south-west. We could not unload the Vlieland. We hope that the Almighty will protect the Anjelier and the Trouw, especially because last night we were told that at sunset something white had been spotted on the horizon, which the Japanese guard guessed might be a sail. The heavy rain has caused some damage to the hides. We managed to store them on the upper galleries at a great deal of trouble and expense.
16 The bongioisen did not turn up till late in the day to open the water-gates. The hides have been stored in their proper place and we continued to unload the Vlieland. We brought a goodly batch of sugar on shore. A northerly wind during the day.
17 The Vlieland is empty. We loaded 1020 chests of copper. Yesterday and today we weighed 1100 piculs of copper so that we have now received, inspected and weighed the 2000 piculs for which we have contracted. They have been packed in 2000 newly-constructed chests. The old chests, of which many were broken when they were opened, will be repaired and used for the copper which we shall receive later. On the instruction of First Burgemeester Sakuemon, the interpreters and the otona went to the governors in the evening to request permission to trade. On their return they reported that they had not spoken to the governors. In view of the fact that the new captain and the two remaining ships have not yet arrived, they had ordered their secretaries to ask us whether in former times trade had opened before the arrival of the new captain.
18 The Vlieland has been inspected. In the evening the interpreters and the otona brought us the governors’ decision that we could start selling the imported goods. We thanked them for this favour.
19 Last night after dinner I decided with Oetgens and Thijmonsz to sell the commodities, worth 245,000 guilders, in two sales. We also decided which goods to sell in the first sale and today we had all these goods brought out and put on display. The wind is still northerly, but today it was dry.
20 Fine weather, the wind northerly. The island has been opened up to all and sundry. The Japanese merchants came to view the goods on display. The governors had instructed us to give the merchants ample time to view the goods, but after three hours all had left.
21 In order to prevent any private trade being conducted, particularly in copper, I had a placard read out to the people and had it affixed at the appropriate places. I trust that this will somewhat curb the export of copper and other commodities.
23 Yesterday the Zoutelande had been beached to be careened and today it returned to the roadstead. The bongiois unlocked the warehouse for rayskins and inspected the goods. They took twelve fine ones to show to the governors. Sugar and hides have been delivered to the buyers. Three of Coxinga’s junks set sail to China, but had to remain at the entrance of the bay because they were becalmed. For several days we have been receiving the news that from Nomo something white could be seen on the horizon far out at sea. Hachizaemon confirmed this today. We presume that they are the remaining ships which are plying the sea, unable to approach because of adverse winds.
24 We have delivered the last of the hides sold. We prepared to put the others on display. According to annual custom, the interpreters came to notify me of the wishes of several lords and gentlemen for goods which will be paid for at the current prices. Sakuemon advised us to set aside the gifts for the Shogun and the Nagasaki Governors before proceeding with the sale, notwithstanding that the new captain had not yet arrived, to avoid any embarrassment later,
25 This continued till midday, when it veered northerly. No ships or junks have appeared. This shows that the news which we received two days ago was just idle talk with the aim of creating a slack market for the Company’s goods which we have put on display today. We have come to an agreement with the copper refiners on [blank] piculs of copper at 109 mas per picul with the chests. On the advice of one of our interpreters, we had waited until today in the hope of obtaining a lower price. We suspect that there are some among the interpreters who participate in this business and who keep dragging us along, so that we have to purchase it at a higher price than we would have liked.
27 We have delivered the goods. There were no arguments, except for the deerskins, because the buyer complained about a few of them which had got wet, in spite of the fact that we had specified this in the sales notice. However, the otona intervened and we delivered them. When we were taking delivery of the copper, which is carried out in three places, we found some debased copper among some chests of a supplier who had already delivered 120 chests and had but few to go. We stopped the weighing and forced him to take back all 120 chests. For should we accept the chests, this would happen every year. Now the disgrace which this supplier has brought upon himself will make the others more careful. Sukezaemon told me that the Bengal silk is being sold in the city at a profit of 24 taels. Fine weather, a southerly sea breeze.
Arrival of the Anjelier
28 Last night heavy rains. We could not display the hides.
29 I mustered the crew in the morning and Boucheljon accompanied me on shore. We started to unload the ship in spite of some showers. Boucheljon informed me that when they were drifting off the Pescadores on 31 August, the galliot the Zwarte Vos had supplied them with 21 leaguers of water. This was very fortunate, because their rations had already dropped to six mutsjes. On 10 September they had come across the flute the Trouw, which had just five leaguers of water left. They had given them six of those they had received. They sailed in convoy but on 14 September they had separated at 28 degrees north latitude. We have delivered all the goods sold, with the exception of the deerskins because of the rain. The interpreters told me that a camphor barge had arrived from Satsuma.
30 The large Surat alcatief which had been ordered for the Shogun some time ago and which had been brought here last year by the Kalf, but which the interpreters had neglected to report to the governors, has now been added to the list of the rarities which the Anjelier has brought, as if it has just arrived. The governors will decide what should be done with it.
October
1 The same weather. Two junks have left for China. We have unloaded the Anjelier.
2 Steady rain since last night. Fine weather after midday. The bongioisen went on board to remove the ammunition and some ballast from on board the Anjelier. We loaded 1000 chests of copper. In the evening the ship was inspected. Some of the ballast had to remain on board because of the late hour. Tomorrow it will be removed when water supplies are taken on board. Northerly wind. A rather large junk left for China. In the evening the interpreters and the otona advised me to bring out the goods for the third sale to avoid raising suspicions with the governors that we are trying to gain time. We should beware that the governors employ spies on the island and the 20th day of their 9th month is approaching fast. In order to avoid displeasing the governors and to show our eagerness, Boucheljon, the other merchants and I spent the night determining which goods to sell.
4 The Japanese merchants have viewed the goods. The remaining deerskins have all been delivered. At the urgent request of Egunia Mangobe, the copper refiner, we have accepted the chests of copper mentioned on the 27th of last month, on his assurance that the copper is pure and not debased. We would have let him keep these chests because the order from India is not as large. But, because the governors are aware of the matter and Mangobe will guard against it, we trust that the refiners will be more careful in future. The camphor producer has finally arrived. He has brought 200 barrels, but they were very expensive. When we asked him for the price, he said that he could not give them for less than 15 taels a picul. We could not offer a bid and we parted company. This man thinks – as do the copper merchants – that we badly need these commodities and this is the reason why he wants such a high price.
5 The merchants came for a second viewing and afterwards we held the third sale. [Results.]
6 The Japanese merchants came in spite of their holiday to receive their goods. The interpreters told us that we should not expect any extension. When the interpreters and the otona showed up in the evening, we decided to devise the annual gifts for the governors. We showed them the list which we had drawn up. Even though we thought that the gifts were fair, they insisted that we enlarge them. They said that not only had the governors generously allowed us to leave the warehouses unsealed to accommodate us, but the Company would derive greater profits now that the pancado had been abrogated. We replied that we did not benefit from this but were more likely to suffer, because this had opened up an avenue for the Chinese via which they could sell their goods, especially silk, at greater profits than before. They would also make every effort to beat our ships to the market and bringing larger quantities than previously, this would adversely affect the Company’s profits.
7 Only today were we told that a sailor on the Anjelier, Jacob Heijndricksen of Hoorn, 19 years of age, has been missing for two days. The interpreters were very concerned and went to report to the governors. On their return they asked from which country and city he originated; whether he had associated with the Portuguese; had he been in the Indies before; had he been in Japan before. The governors had also issued orders to fish for him tomorrow in case he had drowned. When we were delivering the Bengal cabessa silk, the subordinates caught a coolie who had stolen a few skeins. We wanted to find out what kind of punishment is meted out for such an offence when the perpetrator was caught. But the interpreters begged us not to inform the governors, for the coolie would lose his life. We said we would like to set an example to others by having him stand with a skein of silk around his neck during the trade. They said that this was impossible, because we would be laying down the law to the governors.
8 To our great relief the aforementioned sailor came up floating near the Anjelier. I say relief, for should he not have been found, we would have been faced with grave problems, for today the governors had stated that it was the captain’s responsibility and he should see to it that the body was found. For the first time since the governors granted us permission to bury our dead, we had the interpreters humbly request that it be put into practice. We asked to be appointed a place where we could bury the sailor according to our national custom. But today was a Japanese holiday and the interpreters could not speak to the governors. Because of the holiday it was quiet on the island. We collected the gifts for the governors and the burgemeesters. Notwithstanding that we had already increased the gifts for the governors, Burgemeester Sakuemon had the interpreters advise us to increase it even further to a value of 2658 taels at the selling prices.
9 Today we not only received permission to bury the deceased, but two Dutchmen would be also allowed to attend. We did not bury the corpse as the Japanese do, that is stuff it in a barrel, but we laid him in a coffin. Junior Merchant Hogenhouck, the bookkeeper of the Anjelier and three shogunal bongioisen took it to the other side. On their return they reported that the body had been buried to the west of Deshima in a very lovely place called Inasa, which belongs to the intendant of the Nagasaki domains,
10 The remaining silk has been delivered. We put the goods for the fourth sale on display. The Japanese merchants can view them tomorrow.
11 We had expected the Japanese merchants to come and view the goods, but the interpreters told us that it was a holiday on which the governors visit the temples. The common man also celebrates this holiday.
12 The Japanese merchants came to view the goods on display. The trouble we have had with the interpreters asking for, fetching, returning and exchanging European goods, fabrics from the Coast, silk fabrics and rarities for various lords and gentlemen has finally come to an end. These are vexations at this hectic time against which we have no recourse but which we have to bear with a pleasant face.
13 Steady rain with a faint northerly breeze. The fourth sale was as successful as the other sales. We hope to God that the Trouw appears soon. No doubt we would sell her cargo with excellent profits as well.
15 Fine weather with a northerly wind. We have begun to load the ships. We are also delivering the goods sold. There have been some thefts in spite of the close supervision.
17 The ammunition of the Vlieland and the Arnemuiden has been taken on board. We are busy loading the ships.
18 Fine weather. The three yachts the Vlieland, Arnemuiden and Zoutelande have received their full cargoes and are ready to sail to Tayouan tomorrow.
Departure of the Vlieland, Arnemuiden and Zoutelande
19 After we had bought and taken delivery of the full quota of last year’s rice, the otona and the interpreters came to tell me that a large quantity of this year’s crop of Hizen and Chikugo rice had been brought onto the market, should we wish to buy a further quantity. These men know very well that the orders have been fulfilled, that the three ships are fully loaded and that we have the rice bales for the Anjelier in stock. We take it as a compliment but it might indicate that the Company would be allowed to export as much rice as it wished.
20 We have been told that the three yachts set sail at dawn. The governors had given orders that it should be quiet on the island and we seized the opportunity to work on the books and other papers. A northerly wind with some showers.
21 In spite of the rain we continued to load the Anjelier. The rice for Tayouan, the gowns for the fatherland and everything else that had to be shipped was on board by the evening, except for the silver. On the 14th instant we had reached an agreement with the rice merchants on 6700 bales of old rice. The last 2400 bales that they supplied, which were loaded on the Anjelier today, were of excellent rice of this year’s crop. We could take this as a courtesy on their part if they were not short of old rice. We settled with the Geldkamer. All the accounts tallied.
22 Fine weather. One hundred and five chests of silver have been taken on board the Anjelier. I handed the effects of the Company over to my successor Johannes Boucheljon. They amount to 44,878 guilders. In the evening I authorized Boucheljon as the opperhoofd of the Company’s factory in Japan and introduced him as such to the people. I prepared for my departure to Tayouan tomorrow after I had taken leave of the Nagasaki Governors.
Departure of the Anjelier
23 At sunrise the interpreters came to hurry me to go and bid farewell to the Nagasaki Governors. They wanted me to believe that the governors wished to visit a few temples. Kiemon-dono is also impatient, because he will set off as soon as I have left on the Anjelier, especially because there is a rumour buzzing around the city that the flute the Trouw has anchored off Satsuma. This is being kept quiet in order not to hinder Kiemon-dono, for should the Trouw arrive here or elsewhere before his departure, then he has to stay here till the ship’s departure. May the Lord grant that this rumour is true.
Ingen Ryūki (Ch. Yinyuan Longqi) (1592–1673), founder of the Manpuku-ji at Uji, Kyoto.
His Chinese name was Wei Zhiyan. See 27 August 1651, note.
Sic. 28th of this month.
Wine.
This is an error, for Suzuki Saburōkurō (Shigenari), the daikan of Amakusa, had died in 1653. His successor as daikan was his adopted son, whose name was Suzuki Ihyōe (Shigetoki), but he was older than the boy mentioned here. Saburōkurō’s son named Shigesuke, but also called Saburōkurō, was born around 1641 and could thus be the boy referred to in the text. In that case he should have been referred to as the son of the former governor of the island of Amakusa.
Setsubun.
Gensuke was not a son of Chikugo-no-kami’s daughter, but of his son, and therefore a younger brother of Genzō.
The Dutch original gives backhis [bakkes or backhuis], which is considered slang for face.
That was on the 13th.
The original has ‘Parcus’. Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus Von Hohenheim (1493–1541), known as Paracelcus. German-Swiss physician and alchemist, who established the role of chemistry in medicine.
Charles I, executed on 30 January 1649 on a charge of high treason.
The Navigation Act passed by the English Parliament in 1651 reserved the importing of fish into England entirely to English ships.
Charles I was married to Henrietta Maria, sister of King Louis XIII of France; his mother was Anne of Denmark; his sister Elizabeth was married to Frederick V, Elector Palatine, King of Bohemia.
Sic. His grandson.
Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Tokugawa Hidetada.
Tokugawa Iemitsu.
Tokugawa Ietsuna.
‘Peiron, peiron’. This is the Pelong Festival.
Oeffioje.
Hassaku.
The Kunchi Festival.