1659
November1
Departure of the Hilversum and the Harp
5 According to custom, both secretaries of the governors came to warn me to be careful with fire and light. They also wrote down the number of people now remaining at the factory, eleven Dutchmen and four2 black boys. After I had entertained them, they returned home. After midday, having received permission, I went with some of the other men to the aforesaid ships, where we remained till the evening of the 7th. All accounts were squared and I found that this year we made a profit of 965,134 guilders on a capital of 1,170,711 guilders purchase price. The cargoes of both ships are worth 131,7283 guilders, that is 59,663 guilders on the Hilversum sailing to Batavia and 72,119 guilders on the Harp bound for Siam. They consist mainly of 44 chests of schuitzilver, 100 piculs of camphor, a batch of porcelain and some provisions. Both ships set sail in the evening on a northerly wind. This season eight ships have been dispatched from here, with cargoes worth 1,990,282 guilders. May the Almighty guide them safely.
10 Fine weather. I heard that Shogunal Intendant Heizō returned from Edo last night. I sent the interpreters to welcome him. A short while later, they returned with his compliments. He requested one of the suits of armour I had brought with me on the order of the Lord of Higo in Edo. Magobei took one to him.
11 Fine weather and a northerly wind. I learnt that the governors are pressing the Chinese to depart. So far not one of the junks which arrived on the southern monsoon has left, because the Chinese cannot sell their goods. It appears that at present the principal Japanese merchants are reluctant to purchase the silk and the piece-goods, because of the continuing rumours that the market in Miyako is slow. Some even had to sell their white cabessa silk, which fetched 600 taels a picul last year for 450 taels and the fabrics, such as pansies, pelangs, gielams and other kinds, accordingly. Moreover, there are some Chinese who had kept their silk in hopes of a better market, who cannot sell it for the aforesaid price. I hope that this will induce some of them, in particular those from Canton, not to return here in future.
12 At his request, I have lent the Nagasaki burgemeester Sakuemon 2000 taels of schuitzilver of the Company’s money for 1.5–2 months, on condition that he will repay us when we are in Osaka – where we need the money and would have to carry it there anyway – in gold or silver. A deed was signed and there is no doubt that it will be repaid.
14–15 The island has been cleaned.
16 A junk has returned to China. It is the first of the northern monsoon. It is mainly loaded with copper, porcelain and [rice4].
18 Today, in spite of stormy and showery weather, two junks left for Anhai. Their cargoes are the same as the previous one and they also carry some silver.
19 In the morning, with a stiff north-westerly wind, a Chinese junk arrived from Zhangzhou. [Cargo list; worth about 100,000 taels selling price.] This sudden arrival has caused great consternation among the Miyako merchants. It will cause the price of the goods, which are already at a low point, to drop even lower. It is likely that the Chinese will make little profit on this journey.
20 The interpreters told me that the Chinese who arrived yesterday have brought the news that General Coxinga, who had conquered two provinces near the northern borders of Nanking with a large army, had been attacked suddenly by the Tartars two months ago and, suffering a loss of 6000 men, had been driven away. Coxinga himself had to flee in a junk, leaving behind most of his main officers. If this is true, this is a resounding defeat and it contradicts the previous rumour that he had made peace with the Tartars. No secure information is given here on the state of affairs in the Chinese empire. Thus little store can be set by what the Chinese say.
22 In the morning, Interpreter Magobei brought us payment for the goods which Governor Kiemon had sent for this year at various times. The governor also asked for the two white, deep-pile plush for Councillor Mino-no-kami which have been sent expressly for him from Tonkin. They will be sent to him in Edo where it is getting colder by the day so that their arrival will be timely. I sent them to the governor straightaway. He will leave tomorrow and I had the interpreters say goodbye to him on my behalf and ask him at the same time when he thought it would be best for me to set off on the court journey. On their return in the evening, they reported that he thought that the sooner we could prepare for the journey the better.
23 Governor Kiemon left in the morning over land in fine weather.
26 Two junks have left for Anhai, loaded with copper, cotton, rice, zeekatten and various foodstuffs.
28 Two Korean vessels have been towed to the front of the city by hayafune from Hirado. Both junks belong to poor fishermen and carry their wives and children. Severe storms had driven them from the Korean coast and they had reached Hirado. As soon as they dropped anchor, the junks were searched thoroughly by the governor’s secretary and bongioisen. In the evening, the poor people were brought ashore and lodged together in the city. This same day Governor Yohyōe sent notice of their arrival to Edo.
December
1–3 During these three days seven Chinese junks, including a Cantonese one, have left for Anhai. Their cargoes consist mainly of rice, dried fish and other foodstuffs. Rumour has it that at present there is a great shortage of these goods in China because of the war.
5 We are 400 piculs of camphor short on this year’s demand from Surat, Persia and Coromandel. Thus, at our repeated request, the interpreters brought the two camphor burners from Satsuma. They were willing to deliver the said quantity in the next season. But they demanded 12.5 taels per picul, the same price for the batch we shipped this year. After much haggling, they dropped the price to 11 taels. They agreed that we either pay them as soon as part of it had been delivered here and had been weighed – if we had enough ready cash – or to wait till the whole quantity had been delivered. However, they refused to accept a lower price. They finally said that they would confer with the others and would notify us in a few days.
7 Today a junk arrived in the roadstead. It hails from [Zaats**],5 a place close to Anhai. This is the second one this northern monsoon. [List of cargo.]
14 Very cold, wintery weather. In the morning, Magobei came to the lodge and told me that as I had ordered, he had informed Governor Yohyōe that the four buffaloes which the Nieuwpoort had brought from Tayouan on last year’s order for the Lord of Kinokuni, were still on the island. In this cold winter season it was difficult to find fodder for them. In spite of being fed daily with grass and weeds from the mountain slopes by a caretaker, they were losing weight. The governor had replied that he would write to Edo about this as soon as possible and he would have them fetched shortly.
15 Magobei came with one of the governor’s servants, who had an injury to his leg, to have the surgeon attend to him. He said that around two hundred Japanese barges had been stranded in a fierce storm off the coast of Hakata. Several barges had been carrying hides, sugar, sappanwood and such bulk goods.
16 Four Chinese junks have left, two for China loaded with porcelain, rice and cotton; one for Quinam and the other for Cambodia. These are loaded with silver, copper and a batch of small stuff. We cannot find out the details of their exports, because they consist of various pieces of small stuff divided over many factors. The governor has ordered the interpreters Shinkichi7 and Yosōemon to get ready to accompany me on the journey to Edo. It is their first time and time will tell how these inexperienced fellows will serve me.
19 In the afternoon, the Satsuma camphor supplier, Cassaija Sobioije, came on the island with his landlord, Yamaguchi Jirōzaemon, and the interpreters Hachizaemon and Sukezaemon. After long negotiations we reached an agreement. Sobioije will deliver 300 piculs of camphor next season in two or three lots, at 11.5 taels a picul before the departure of the ships. As soon as a batch is ready it will be sent from Satsuma – probably in May or June – and we shall take delivery of it and weigh it. If there is enough ready cash, we shall pay him or else when the whole quantity has been delivered. In the presence of the aforesaid interpreters a written statement was passed. Now we can depend on the delivery of the camphor and we need not fear that the Chinese will get hold of it, as has happened before. The order for the factories in Surat and Persia, which are yielding a profit and are in need of it, will now be satisfied.
2[*] Today the governor has given the name of our old interpreter, Kichibyōe, to his son, Shinkichi, who succeeded his father two years ago and who will now accompany us to Edo.
25 Christmas Day. Cold and stormy weather, hail showers. In the morning, another junk arrived from Anhai. This is the fourth one to arrive in the northern monsoon and out of season. [Cargo list; worth in today’s market around 100,000 taels selling price].
28 I have given the otona the money for the barge freight and for the wages for the onderbongiois, the interpreters and the Japanese servants during the journey, a total of 693 taels, so that he can give each his share.
29 Today a northerly wind is blowing and the weather is clear. Nine Chinese junks have left for China. Apart from some schuitzilver, their main cargo consists of rice, cotton and porcelain.
30 Interpreters Kichibei and Yosōemon came to tell me that Governor Yohyōe has appointed one of his noblemen, by the name of Phebe-dono, as our escort. He will not be ready before the beginning of next month. Because the next four days are unpropitious days for travel according to Japanese superstitions, we shall not be able to leave before 12 January, which is the last day of their 11th month.
31 In the afternoon, two large Chinese junks set sail, one to Anhai and the other straight to Canton. Both are richly laden with silver, some copper and various foodstuffs.
1660
January
1 Fine weather. In the afternoon, a junk arrived from Anhai with 175 people on board. At least fifty of them are Nanking merchants. [List of cargo; worth in today’s market about 125,000 taels.]
2 Early in the morning another junk arrived. It had left Anhai together with the junk which arrived yesterday. [Cargo list; worth no more than 15,000 taels selling price.]
9–10 Cold and unpleasant weather, driving snow. Everything is ready for the court journey. The provisions for the journey over the sea have been bought.
11 The weather has calmed. All luggage and provisions have been loaded.
Court journey
In the barge
12 Together with Junior Merchants Cornelis Mulock and Roelant de Carpentier, I went to say goodbye to Governor Yohyōe. He was friendly and promised us his help if need be and that he would look after the remaining Company servants on Tsukishima. Back at home I gave both junior merchants instructions on the running of the factory and entrusted the supervision to them. To that end I handed them written instructions. I told the other servants to carry out their duties properly. In the afternoon, we left the island and went to the barge. According to Japanese custom, the Japanese who have their living on Tsukishima saw us off with sakana and accompanied us to the end of the bay. We dropped anchor there.
13 At dawn we set sail. In the afternoon, we had to drop anchor off Seto because of an adverse wind.
16 In the evening, we dropped anchor in the bay of Hirado in front of the old lodge.
17–18 Calm, easterly winds forced us to stay there. In the meantime, we went ashore and joined by the bongiois and the interpreters we went to the furo or bath.
19 In the morning, we set sail with a breeze from the south-west. We reached the Bay of Yobuko in the afternoon.
22 We left before dawn with a westerly wind. We made good headway and reached Shimonoseki by the evening. There we had to stay because of a calm.
24 We set sail and at dusk we reached the Bay of Murozumi.
28 We reached the Bay of Bingo-no-Tomo. We set sail with the high tide at midnight.
February
In Osaka
1 We have made good progress and in the afternoon we reached the river of Osaka. Our landlord, Ebiya Shirōemon, came to welcome us with two vessels. At two o’clock we reached his house in the city. All the goods have been unloaded.
3 In the morning, I sent Niemon, the clerk, to the major-domo of the Lord of Kinokuni to remind him of the four buffaloes which his lord has ordered and which we are still keeping on Tsukishima. They should be sent for as soon as possible. But Niemon did not find him at home. Yesterday he had left for his master’s domain, which is a two days’ ride from here. He will return in eight to ten days. Thus I entreated Shirōemon, our landlord, to give him the message on his return. The 2000 taels which I lent to Burgemeester Sakuemon in Nagasaki on 12 November have been repaid in gold by his servant. We prepared ourselves for our journey over land starting tomorrow morning.
On the highway
In Miyako
4 We left Osaka in cold and frosty weather. In the evening, we reached the great merchant city of Miyako and lodged in the house of Kōzuke Saburōemon. There we learnt that Governor Sado-no-kami had not yet arrived, but the customary gifts for His Honour would be received by his secretary. Thus we set them ready this evening. They consist of one piece of rasset, three pieces of atlas, three pieces of coutenijs, three pieces of taffachelas gingham, three pieces of Persian chela and 15 catties of cloves in a case.
6 We left before daybreak. We stopped for refreshments in Minakuchi. In the evening, in driving snow we reached the inn in Sekinojizō.
7 We travelled on and had lunch in Ishiyakushi. Around four o’clock we reached Kuwana. The wind was favourable to make the crossing and everything was loaded quickly. We set sail before the evening, but we did not reach Miya before midnight because of the low tide.
8 We left at dawn. We lunched in Okazaki and spent the night in the village of Akasaka.
9 We went on our way and arrived in Arai in the afternoon and spent the night in Hamamatsu.
10 We passed through Fukuroi and spent the night in the village of Kanaya.
11 Shōgatsu or the first day of the Japanese New Year. The weather was fine and we left. We crossed the Ōi-gawa, the water was low. We reached Ejiri and spent the night.
12 We crossed the Fuji-gawa in the afternoon and passed through Yoshiwara. In the evening, we reached the inn in Mishima.
13 Yesterday we hired other horses and a number of men to cross the Hakone Mountains. We left at daybreak. The weather was fine and we soon crossed the mountains. Before evening fell we reached the inn in Odawara.
14 In the morning, we left and lunched in Ōiso. In the evening, we reached the inn in Totsuka.
Arrvial in Edo
15 Three hours before daybreak we left. We reached Kawasaki where we had some refreshments. We left and in the afternoon we arrived in the shogunal city of Edo. During our journey, on the whole, the weather was fine, dry and suitable for travelling. As soon as we had arrived in our lodgings, I sent the interpreters to notify the Nagasaki Governor Kiemon of our arrival and to request his assistance for an early audience. On their return in the evening, they reported that the governor was pleased with our safe arrival.
16 Early in the morning, the interpreters went to Chikugo-no-kami and the new commissioner, Hōjō Awa-no-kami. Both gentlemen were pleased with our safe arrival. Chikugo-no-kami expected to see me at his house sometime. Hōjō Awa-no-kami had said that, like last year, we should follow the instructions of the Nagasaki Governor. In the afternoon, Governor Kiemon had Bongiois Boffioije inform me that he had announced my arrival to the councillors. They had given him hope that I would appear with the gifts before the Shogun on the next day of audience, which is on 15 Shōgatsu or the 25th of this month. It might even be sooner, thus he urged us to prepare ourselves and send him the list of the gifts as soon as possible.
17 Last night we made a list in Japanese of the gifts we have selected for the Shogun, the councillors and other gentlemen. The interpreters took it to the governor. They should request his help and advice about whether any additions or reductions needed to be made. Also whether any new gentlemen, such as Hōjō Awa-no-kami, needed to be presented with gifts. As usual the interpreters were tardy and went there around nine. Thus the governor was not at home, but his secretary, Fatsiroseijmon, had taken the message. Chikugo-no-kami had his servant Senoosje welcome me. He thanked me for bringing various goods sent to him from Nagasaki by Burgemeester Sakuemon. He would like to know which goods we had brought in fulfilment of his order. Senoosje was given it in writing. They are mainly small things of little value.
18 I sent Kichibei to Kiemon to ask if he has had a look at the list of the gifts. He returned with the governor’s approval of the gifts for the Shogun and the councillors. The only change was that we need not present any gifts now or in future to Matsudaira Izumo-no-kami to whom we also used to present gifts.
19 I sent Kichibei and our landlord to the house of Inaba Mino-no-kami with some goods which he had ordered, such as the book Pinax microcosmographicus, a Siamese rhinoceros horn, a bottle of spirits, a blood-stone, two large and three small compasses and a batch of Muscovy glass. But on their return they reported that this gentleman had not been at home and they had left the items with his major-domo. Every day the wind is blowing very hard and we cannot take out the gifts. We have to leave them wrapped up till the weather is more suitable. One day is enough to prepare.
20 I sent Yosōemon to Kiemon with some goods for which His Honour had asked yesterday. He should also ask him if we needed to show the memorandum of the gifts to Chikugo-no-kami, as we have been used to doing. On his return the interpreter said that he had spoken to the secretary, Fatsiroseijmon, who had told him that, now that [Chikugo-no-kami] had been relieved of all his offices,
21 Early in the morning, I sent both interpreters to Kiemon to congratulate him on his son’s wedding. They should try to find out if the audience was still scheduled for the 25th. They reported that they had given the message to the secretary. The governor was at Court. The secretary thought that we might receive further news this evening or tomorrow. In the afternoon, the son of Governor Yohyōe came to visit us in the lodging with a large company of nobles. After they had viewed the rarities and had spent two hours being treated to tent wine, spirits and confitures, they left with expressions of gratitude. One of the Shogun’s principal attendants and bodyguards, by the name of Ōsawa Hyōbu, was brought to our lodgings in a norimono on the governor’s order. Twenty years ago, he fell off his horse and broke his leg, which had never healed properly since. He wished to know if our surgeon could cure him. After he had inspected him, the surgeon thought that he could be cured, it being just an old injury. He applied a plaster and, at his request, he instructed the Japanese doctor who accompanied him how to treat it and which plasters and salves should be applied. The governor had also informed us that we should entertain the aforesaid Hyōbu because of his high position and the esteem in which he is held by the Shogun. Thus we offered him all kinds of drink and confitures which we had brought. He tasted some and after an hour he left, happy and grateful with the hope that he would be cured. It is said that he has to attend to the Shogun all the time. There are just three such attendants, who alternate daily. Thus everyone treats him with great deference.
23 Early in the morning, when the weather was calm, we opened the packages and took out all the gifts. While we were busy, our escort, Phebe-dono, came upstairs to tell us that he had been summoned by Governor Kiemon. The governor had ordered him to inform me that I should be received in audience by the Shogun on 15 Shōgatsu. Therefore, I should be ready at the appointed time. I sent the interpreters to thank the governor. This Governor of Nagasaki – whom we have found to be at present the sole official in charge of the Company’s affairs in Edo and whom we have to address in all matters, because Commissioner Hōjō Awa-no-kami does not concern himself at all with our affairs nor does he have any direction and old Chikugo-no-kami is keeping quiet – had the interpreters inform me that we should not let anyone have any of the remaining goods, for which there is a great demand, without his orders or foreknowledge. All the remainders should be taken back, unless one of the councillors or other high officials asked for something. This would prevent any bad debts being incurred and us waiting for payment. We can easily comply with this order and it puts us at ease, because of the aforesaid reasons and other problems which we face in Nagasaki, which we had already counted on.
24 Fine weather. Around noon the son of Governor Yohyōe came with a large company of young courtiers to see the rarities we had brought. On account of his father, we treated the entire company as best as we could. After an hour we were warned that there was a fire, which startled them. They left in a hurry. We climbed onto the roof of our lodgings and we could see thick smoke but also the bright flames. According to the Japanese, it was about three-quarters of a mile away on the other side of the river and the weather was calm. No one thought we might be in any danger. They did not worry and stood watching it. But we had learnt our lesson two years ago how that element could roar and devour and immediately I had all the goods and the gifts stored in the godown.
26 Before noon, we went back to the godown and had the most important goods taken to our new lodgings, where it appears we shall have to stay for the time being. We packed the rest and gave it to the clerk, Niemon, in safekeeping till tomorrow. Then we shall send for it, so that all the goods can be kept together and we need not guard two places.
27 Fine weather. Before noon, the remaining goods were brought from the godown to our lodgings. All were in good order. In the afternoon, Ōsawa Hyōbu, who also sent us a wild goose and two salted salmon yesterday, came to have the surgeon attend to his leg, which was already on the mend. He commiserated with us about the fire, but he was pleased that we had escaped unharmed and that the gifts had not been damaged. After the wound had been dressed and he had enjoyed a glass of tent wine, he left with expressions of gratitude. He said that, with the governor’s permission, he would expect the surgeon at his home in two days. In the evening, Kiemon sent for our bongiois. He told him that, on the Shogun’s behalf, the councillors had given orders that every day we should be given enough rice for fifty people, as had been the case two years ago when the fire broke out. According to the written order, we would receive this quantity from the shogunal supply during our stay here. I sent Interpreter Yosōemon to thank His Honour for this exceptional honour, enjoying His Majesty’s rice is an honour held in the highest esteem by these people. I requested he convey our gratitude to the councillors, because we cannot go out ourselves.
28 In the afternoon, Senoosje, Chikugo-no-kami’s servant, brought a wild boar as a gift from his master. But we noticed that it was also done so that he could be present when it was cut open and dissected. The surgeon performed this task and showed him all details and he also gave him some instruction from the book of Ambrosius Paré,11 which he had brought along.
29 Fine weather. In the morning, I sent Interpreter Yosōemon with the Dutch compass to the house of Governor Kiemon. Last night His Honour had asked for it on behalf of Councillor Izu-no-kami. Then the interpreter went to Chikugo-no-kami to thank him for the boar and to present him with a fine piece of Dutch smoked meat, of which he is a great lover. On his return the interpreter told me that our old patron had been pleased.
March
2 We were summoned to the house of Kiemon. We were immediately led into the inner room to His Honour, who was accompanied by several guests who had come for his son’s wedding. After we had been seated, he bade us welcome. He commiserated with me that for a second time I was in Edo when a fire occurred and that the audience with His Majesty had been postponed. But we had escaped unharmed and the gifts were undamaged. His Honour then asked me – now that we had experienced a fire here for the third time in the month of Shōgatsu, in which our lodgings had burnt down each time – would it not be better in future to travel from Nagasaki two months later and be here in Sangatsu or the third month, which is in April? In that month there were not as many fires. I replied that not only on account of the fire would it be a good idea, but for many other reasons too. He said that the captain had requested this last year, but then it had been considered to be of too little importance to mention to the Shogun. But this time he would propose it and he would inform us of the decision. He also expected that we would appear before his Majesty on the 28th – which is the 9th of this month. I thanked him and in particular for the liberal gift of His Majesty’s rice. He treated us to sake and sakana. Then we took our leave and went to Yohyōe’s house, but his son was not at home. In the evening, we returned to the lodgings. On our way we noticed that not only were the people very busy building on the burnt out places, but many houses were already finished, built very light like the former ones. They are making more haste than two years ago.
3 Early in the morning – the lazy Kichibei pretended to be ill – I sent Yosōemon to the house of the governor to thank him for yesterday’s hospitality. I also sent him a bottle of spirits, a small case of almonds, two glasses and some seed. The interpreter reported that he much appreciated these small things, yea, he had even treated some of his friends who were present to the spirits in the presence of the interpreter.
4 With the governor’s permission, our surgeon went to the house of Ōsawa Hyōbu to dress his leg. On his return he told me that the injury was mending well and that this gentleman – who has a beautiful house close to the Court with many servants – had liberally treated him and Yosōemon to food and drink. In the evening, Fatsiroseijmon, Kiemon’s secretary, came to visit me with seven or eight other noblemen. They commiserated with me about the fire which was the reason that we had to make do with such sober and cramped lodgings. He said that they had come with his master’s approval to entertain me. I treated all the guests as best as I could and they became jolly and started to sing and enjoy themselves in their own fashion and became very familiar. They drank a good deal of tent wine and spirits and it all went to their heads. Because of the hard rain they stayed till after midnight and then left together gratefully. We have never before had such a late visit here at the Court.
5 Ōsawa Hyōbu had me thanked for the surgeon’s visit yesterday. He sent me a wild goose, which he had caught with his own falcon. The whole day it snowed heavily and no one came to visit us. I sent Niemon to Inoue Hyōbu or Uneme-dono for payment for the goods which he took away three years ago on behalf of his lord, Mito-sama, and for which he has not paid. Hyōbu told Niemon that he himself would visit me the day after tomorrow. In the meantime, he would speak to the people who had received the goods and he would pay us then.
6 It rained the whole day. No one visited us except for Chikugo-no-kami’s servant, who received further instruction in medicine from our surgeon.
8 I learnt that last night four streets, in which about 120 houses had stood, had burnt down and that the fierce fire had been stopped at the outer moat of the castle. In the afternoon, Kiemon sent one of his bongioisen to inform me that our audience with the Shogun had been set for tomorrow, even if it rained. Thus we should fetch the gifts from his godown in time. We should send them ahead to the castle together with the presentation trays. We should be there at eight o’clock. I had the messenger thank him for this news and tell him that we would be ready. The interpreter also went to thank His Honour. After midnight, we learnt of another fire, but it was far away and the weather was calm. Thus it was extinguished before dawn.
Audience
9 Overcast sky. In the morning, Kiemon sent Bongiois Boffioije to escort me to the castle. We went there around eight o’clock, having sent the gifts on ahead. We were taken to the waiting hall of the newly-built palace. The Shogun moved here just three months ago. After having waited for an hour, Kiemon joined us with Commissioner Hōjō Awa-no-kami, whom I saw for the first time. After some conversation, they said that they would send for me when it was time to appear before His Majesty. The governor and the commissioner had a discussion about us and the Portuguese. Then both left.
10 Fine, clear weather. We took the gifts to Councillors Izu-no-kami, Bungo-no-kami, Uta-no-kami and Mino-no-kami. Also to the other officials such as Kutsuki Minbu-no-shō, Kawachi-no-kami, Awa-no-kami, Ōta Bitchū-no-kami, Shōgen-sama and Nagato-dono. According to custom, no one was at home or available. But their secretaries politely accepted the gifts, promising to notify their lords and masters when they returned from Court. They would also pass on our gratitude for the gift of His Majesty’s rice. The large house of Ōta Bitchū-no-kami, Lord of Hamamatsu, had burnt down on 24 February. This is the third time in two years that this lord has lost his house in the fire. The gift was accepted by two of his servants who were there. We have presented all the gifts.
12 We had no visitors and accompanied by Yosōemon I went to Commissioner Hōjō Awa-no-kami’s house to greet him for the first time and to thank him for his help at Court at the time of the audience. But he was not at home. He had just been summoned to the castle by the councillors. I told his secretary the reason for my visit. He would inform his master when he returned and give him the small present of a bottle of aniseed water and 2 catties of almonds. In the evening, I handed the landlord and the interpreters the customary gifts for the shaven-headed attendants in the shogunal palace – one has been added to their number this year and now they total twenty-one persons – and also for Seeckij Scarra-dono, the secretary of Councillor Uta-no-kami. They should deliver them tomorrow. I also gave our escort Phebe-dono, both onderbongioisen, the clerk and other Japanese servants their customary gifts. They accepted them eagerly.
14 Early in the morning, we went to the castle. After we had waited for three hours in the ordinary waiting hall, I was called by Kiemon and I and the interpreter alone were taken to the large audience hall, where the four councillors were gathered with a large number of other distinguished gentlemen. We were seated in the inner gallery directly opposite the gentlemen. Sakai Uta-no-kami spoke. He had Commissioner Hōjō Awa-no-kami read out the old instructions on the Portuguese and the papists. The main point is that should we learn anything about the Portuguese or any other nation having any hostile designs against this empire, we should inform the governors in Nagasaki as soon as possible, even if they were only rumours. We would be doing the Shogun and this empire a great service. Furthermore, we should not harm or take any Chinese junks, which also trade in this empire, when they are sailing here. My short reply was that we would always do our best to comply with His Majesty’s orders, as we have always done in the past. The order concerning the junks had been written down by the captain last year. I left the hall, but was called back in a short while later. I saw thirty silk gowns lying on presentation trays. Awa-no-kami and Kiemon handed them to me very ceremoniously, saying that the gifts we had brought had pleased His Majesty very much. Thus he was offering us these thirty silk gowns as a reciprocal gift. We also received permission to return to Nagasaki.
15 In the morning, Kiemon sent his secretary to ask if there were any rare items left. I gave him what was left in writing. Shortly after, he sent for a cellaret with stoneware bottles, four plumes, a telescope and a bergwerkje for Councillor Sakai Uta-no-kami. In the afternoon, Councillor Inaba Mino-no-kami’s major-domo brought ten gowns as a reciprocal gift. The councillor also sent 10 schuiten of silver in recompense for a rhinoceros horn, one bottle of spirits, three compasses, a piece of blood-stone and some Muscovy glass, which we had sent to him before without desiring anything for them. I accepted them gratefully, because I was aware that this gentleman would otherwise not appreciate the aforesaid small things. Today I learnt that on 24 February – the day of the fire here – the greater part of the city of Owari was also reduced to ashes. Forty-eight of the main streets have burnt down. Today the surgeon was summoned to the house of Chikugo-no-kami, where he spent almost the entire day. He replied to the questions on medicine put to him. His Honour sent Senoosje in the evening to thank us. He also told me that he expected me at his house tomorrow in the afternoon.
16 The whole day it poured with rain. Nonetheless, in the afternoon I went to the house of Chikugo-no-kami, where I was given a friendly welcome. After some conversation of little import, His Honour inquired after some of the former opperhoofden. Then he asked about the size of and the distance to Africa. I replied to the best of my knowledge and truthfully. Then he treated me sumptuously to Japanese dishes.
17 Because we shall be leaving in two days’ time, I went to Governor Kiemon to say farewell. I thanked him properly for all the services he has rendered. He treated us affably and was pleased about our success. He also treated us to some Japanese sakana. Then he wished us a happy journey. Outside, I elaborated on the shortness of the trading season to his secretary, Fatsiroseijmon, who exerts much influence on the governor. I told him that it is impossible to take care of everything properly in such a short time, as he himself knew. Therefore, I requested he propose to his master that the last ship be allowed to sail on the last day of the 9th month instead of on the 20th. He promised to tell his master when an opportunity arose and to do his best. He might give us a favourable decision in Nagasaki. I earnestly requested him to promote this, because both young interpreters, whom I have often urged to propose it to the governor, have not dared mention it to him. Next we went to Hōjō Awa-no-kami, but again he was not at home and I left the message with his secretary. Chikugo-no-kami sent me 5 schuiten of silver with his servant, Senoosje. This is ample payment for the few small things which I took to him as gifts. It seems that this gentleman does not wish to receive anything however small as a gift. Senoosje also brought me a memorandum from His Honour for the items which he would like to have next year. They are mostly small things which are easily obtainable and I promised to take care of it. I had sent two Japanese servants to remind Inoue Uneme-dono of his debt.
18 Councillor Bungo-no-kami sent me a list of goods which he should like to receive next year. Governor Kiemon sent me 3 schuiten of silver as a gift for a compass, some mumia and bilili, which I had sent to him before. He again wished us a safe and happy journey. He also let me know that if the wind was adverse, we could travel from Shimonoseki to Nagasaki over land. We prepared ourselves for our departure tomorrow. The livery stables charge three koban for a horse from here to Miyako, which is unheard of. After much negotiation, we decided to hire twelve horses to ride on at 2¼ koban each and, to save on expenses, the rest will be carried on tsugi uma, or horses which are changed on the way, which cost half as much. I paid our landlord Gen’emon for food and lodgings and the rent of the warehouse. I also gave him the usual present of a cloth rash, out of consideration for the fire and his poverty. I also added the rice the Shogun has presented to us. He accepted it all gratefully, but he insisted on some compensation for the damage he has suffered through the fire. The bongioisen and the interpreters had already spoken to me on his behalf. But because of his negligence and disobliging attitude – and also because we had to stay in such a dirty accommodation because of him and for other reasons as well –, I would not oblige him and he had to be satisfied for now with what I gave him. But I gave his brother-in-law, in whose house we had lodged for twenty-four days after the fire, a small present. We have received full payment for all the goods which have been fetched this year. Thus we are ready to depart tomorrow.
Departure from Edo
19 Fine weather. Around eight o’clock the whole entourage departed from Edo. At noon we arrived in Kawasaki, where we had lunch.
In Miyako
30 We arrived in Miyako. The landlord notified the secretary of Governor Sado-no-kami – who is still in Edo – of our arrival. In the evening, he sent us 10 schuiten of silver and five silk gowns as reciprocal gifts. He also paid us 51.6 taels in silver, calculated at 4 schuiten or 17.2 taels a pair, for the three pairs of pistols and puffers, which we had left with him on our outward journey, which is fair payment.
31 We have no special business here, but to oblige our escort, who claims that he has to order and buy something for his master Governor Yohyōe, we spent the day here.
April
1 We left Miyako in the evening in rainy weather. We visited the large Daibutsu and the other surrounding statues. The landlord accompanied us till here. We travelled on and arrived in Fushimi at four o’clock. I had the luggage loaded on the barge, but we had to spend the night here hampered by the hard rain and the unwillingness of the boatmen.
In Osaka
2 In the morning, with an adverse wind, we left. We arrived in our inn in Osaka two hours into the evening.
3 I had the provisions for our journey bought. Most of the luggage has been taken to the barge. I had our landlord Shirōemon remind the Lord of Kinokuni’s major-domo that the four buffaloes which his lord had ordered were still on the island in Nagasaki. Thus we would like to know what his plans were. Did he intend to send a barge or should we send them here on a vessel? But on his return the landlord reported that the major-domo had again left for his lord’s estates and he would return in five or six days. He would notify him then.
4 Strong westerly wind. I would have liked to leave today, but I was told that the barge was not ready yet and thus we had to stay here.
In the barge
5 In the morning, I settled with the landlord Shirōemon. We left at noon, but because the goods had not yet been stowed properly in the barge, we went to visit the temples in Tennōji first. In the evening, we embarked. The landlord had accompanied us and here he bade us farewell and returned to Osaka.
6–7 We had to remain at anchor held up by the low tide and a headwind.
8 In the morning, we set sail with an easterly breeze. We were forced to anchor at several places and were often becalmed or had adverse wind.
19 We finally reached Shimonoseki.
20 A violent storm from the east with rain. We had to ride with five heavy anchors. The bongioisen were inclined to travel from here to Nagasaki over land. I could not agree because it was still early and we would have the benefit of the moonlight during the whole night. Thus I wanted to wait for a few days. But they remained obdurate. Our escort Phebe-dono claimed that Governor Kiemon had expressly ordered him to do so to prevent any danger. We had already spent such a long time in the barge from Osaka. Finally we decided to wait till the morning and, if the wind was still contrary, we would prepare for the journey over land.
21 The weather had calmed, but the wind from the west was contrary. The skipper said that it would continue to blow for a few more days. I saw that they had set their minds on the journey over land and that they could not be swayed, thus we prepared ourselves and in the afternoon we sailed to Kokura, where we arrived in the evening. We spent the night in a fair house close to the river.
On the new land road
23 We left at daybreak. We passed beautiful arable land. In the afternoon, in Yamae we ate the food we had brought along and travelled on. Shortly after, we left the domain of Hakata and entered the domain of Hizen. In the evening, we arrived in the village of Todoroki, where we found good lodgings but little to eat. We travelled a further eleven miles.
24 At sunrise and in fine weather we left. We had some refreshments in Sakaibara. In the afternoon, we passed through the city of Hizen, where, on the lord’s order, on our behalf, the streets had been swept and water had been sprayed against the dust and the people were kept from the streets. The lord also sent some bearers and horses to meet us, should we need them, and also two bongioisen on horseback, who accompanied us to Oda. They also stayed the night there, but in another inn. Today we progressed twelve miles.
25 We still have a long way to go and we left Oda before dawn. The two noblemen from Hizen had given each house orders to light a lantern for us. At noon we reached Shiota and at two o’clock we arrived in the village of Ureshino, where the domain of Hizen ends. The bongioisen bade us farewell and returned. We hired other horses to cross a high mountain. We reached the hamlet of Sonogi, situated in the domain of Ōmura at four o’clock. After our escorts had had something to eat, we crossed a large bay, seven miles wide, in three small barges and two hours into the evening we reached the other side and entered the village of Tokitsu, where we spent the night. Today we progressed twenty miles.
Arrival in Nagasaki
26 At dawn, in fine weather, we left and in the early afternoon, Thank the Lord, we arrived safely in Nagasaki and were back on our island. We found everything in good order. The journey over land from Shimonoseki to here took us four days in fine weather. The bongiois refreshed himself in my house and said goodbye. I sent Kichibei and Yosōemon, the interpreters who had accompanied us, to Governor Yohyōe to announce our arrival.
27 Today I had many visitors to congratulate me on my safe return. I read Junior Merchant Cornelis Mulock’s notes and found that from 20 January to date, sixteen Chinese junks had arrived, fourteen from Fuzhou, Anhai and Shacheng, which are under Coxinga’s control, and two from Nanking. The goods they have brought onto the market are the following. [List.]
28 Interpreter Sukezaemon came in the afternoon to ask for some pistols for the Lord of Hakata. I handed him all that were left. The interpreter told us that an important Chinese from Nanking had arrived.
29 Fine weather. Today I inspected all warehouses and attics on the island to point out the necessary repairs to the tardy landlords, who have not bothered with them so far. They should look after them properly, considering the high rent they receive for them every year.
30 Our surgeon was summoned to the house of the governor. One of his servants had broken his arm in a wrestling bout and it had to be set.
May
1 In the morning, all the interpreters accompanied me to the house of Governor Yohyōe. After a short wait I was taken before him. I thanked him for his letter of recommendation, through which I would have obtained an early dispatch from the Court, had it not been for the fire. I also thanked him for his son’s hospitality in Edo and for the gift of the Shogun’s rice after the fire. Moreover, at the suggestion of his confrère Kiemon, the Court had decreed that next year we should set off on the court journey from Nagasaki in the second month instead of in the last month in order to avoid the peril of fire in future. And finally I thanked him for the good care he had shown to the residents here on Tsukishima. He was pleased and gave a brief response. Then we were granted leave to retire and we returned to the lodge. Now that all the interpreters were gathered, I urged them to notify the house owners that they should repair the houses and the warehouses now that it was dry,
2 The whole day it rained, the wind is blowing from the east and none of the interpreters appeared.
3 In the morning, the wind blew from the north. We saw our barge sailing into the bay and drop anchor in front of the city. It took twelve days to sail from Shimonoseki, thus we had taken the right decision to travel over land. The expenses for the whole party travelling by sea would have been far more than we have spent for the four days travelling over land. The goods and other provisions were brought ashore in the afternoon.
4 Around noon a small junk from Shacheng, a place close to Anhai, arrived in the roadstead. [Cargo list; worth about 8000 taels selling price.]
5 In the morning, a junk sailed to Anhai. It arrived in February. It is carrying about 50,000 taels’ worth of silver and some foodstuffs.
6 Today we learnt that Governor Yohyōe received a letter from Edo yesterday. It said that on 28, 29, 30 March and 4 April another great fire had raged there. Not only had many ordinary streets been reduced to ashes, but also several houses of officials and lords, including those of Kinokuni and Owari-no-kami. This proves that there are fires there in the second and third month as well as in Shōgatsu. The Nagasaki burgemeester Shirōbei, whom we had met on the way, had barely been able to escape the fire after his arrival.
9 In the morning, the sky was overcast with an easterly wind. Two junks which arrived in March are returning to Anhai. They are loaded with about 140,000 taels of schuitzilver and some foodstuffs. These Chinese are so near and can sail this course almost the entire year; they come and go as they please.
12 Every day we hear that the Chinese are selling their silk and fabrics at very low prices, now that they are ready to leave at the end of the northern monsoon. White silk which was sold a month ago for 450 taels, is now sold for 408 taels per picul and the silk fabric accordingly. It seems that Miyako is still gorged with Chinese piece-goods, in particular pansies, pelangs and gielams.
13 The interpreters Sukezaemon and Magobei came to the lodge. I had a long conversation with them about the Nanking trade and what its possibilities were. They claimed that it could be undertaken, because according to the Chinese captain, the rich Nanking merchants were not sea merchants, but preferred to trade on land without any risks, like the merchants in Miyako. According to this Chinese, both the governors and officials in charge of the Nanking River would permit this and would issue a pass.
16 Whitsun. Early in the morning, Interpreter Sukezaemon came to the lodge and told me that he had a long discussion yesterday with Burgemeester Sakuemon about the Nanking trade and the Chinese captain’s proposal. He had promised to mention it to Governor Yohyōe. He did so last night. After the governor had given it some thought, he had said that this was not in the least in contravention of the Shogun’s order. We could do as we pleased. If it turned out well, this was good. Sakuemon informed us of this decision early and we could do as we pleased. The Chinese who is advocating this matter, is a man between 50 and 60 years old and his name is Pasmin. We have now been told that he is the same man who made the same proposal to Wilhem Versteeghen in 1646 when the Nanking Chinese were forbidden to trade here, because they had been conquered by the Tartars. It seems that he has been sent with the knowledge of the Nanking governor, or at least of the two officials in charge of the river, who also govern the city. Apparently they desire our trade for the profits they expect from it. It is also claimed that these officials cannot issue us a pass for trade without the knowledge of the court in Peking. The interpreter and I had a long discussion about this. He thought that this man, who will leave with his junk in four days, could return here in August or September with the pass. He could return to Nanking in the company of our ship to show the way and assist us for the time being. We could stay in his house, which was large and suitable. But to show that we had serious intentions about this trade and to obtain the document, the interpreter advised us to send a small gift to each governor, because this Chinese Pasmin could not appear empty-handed before them nor would he be taken seriously. We, on the other hand, were of the opinion that we should gain more honour and respect if we refrained from sending any gifts this time,
17 Early in the morning, all the interpreters came. They told us that they and the aforesaid Pasmin had gone to the house of Sukezaemon yesterday and, in the presence of a Chinese living here and two other Chinese brokers, had discussed the matter of the pass extensively. They had finally come to the conclusion that this document, without which no ship could go there, had to be obtained with a gift. They had also agreed that this should cost at least 1500 taels, because seven people needed to be acknowledged in this way, namely three governors and four secretaries. Furthermore, there was no other opportunity to obtain this pass. Because after much deliberation we could not conceive any other means, we decided not to let this opportunity pass – although it is still not very clear to us and we have many doubts, all the more so because we have never seen or heard this Chinese speak ourselves – and to let the matter proceed. But because we have no goods or rarities at hand, they proposed and in particular Sukezaemon, that they themselves would buy the gifts in the city and give them to Pasmin to take with him, on condition that if he brought the said pass, we would accept it and repay them for the gifts. If not, they would consider it given it to him on bottomry and it would be at their own risk. I have till tomorrow to take their proposal into consideration.
19 Very early, Interpreter Sukezaemon came to me. I had another long discussion with him about this Nanking business. I also impressed upon him that, if we obtained the pass from the Nanking officials, it should be with the knowledge and permission of the government in Peking, otherwise it would be useless. Furthermore, that when the said Pasmin returned here in August or September, he should bring with hem a map of the coast of Nanking, the bays, the depths and all other necessary details,
20 Magobei came to the lodge and told me that the interpreters had gathered in Sukezaemon’s house last night and Pasmin and his clerk had joined them. They had explained everything thoroughly to him: the pass should be sent with the approval of the Peking court; he should return here in the 7th or 8th month; and he should return to Nanking in the company of our ship to point out everything and assist us. In their presence, Sukezaemon had handed Pasmin the gift, which had been selected with Pasmin’s knowledge, on our behalf. He in his turn had handed over a document and a receipt. They did not doubt that with a safe passage all would be well. Sukezaemon, who is the principal and also the richest person, is taking full responsibility for the risk and has paid all. He did not want any of his colleagues, some of whom own little, to participate. He professes that he has benefited from the Company since he was 8 years old and therefore he would now like to contribute and take the risk. The gift, according to Magobei, consists of [?13] pieces of red and two pieces of blue lakenen, six pieces of cloth rash and two beautiful mirrors, worth together about 1200 taels purchase price.
21 In the afternoon, Pasmin left on his Nanking junk. But the wind was easterly and then veered south-westerly and he could not put to sea. Thus he returned in the evening and anchored in the bay. May God grant him a safe passage and that he may return here in time with the pass. In the evening, Sukezaemon reported that a barge had arrived from Satsuma with 380 barrels of camphor which we had ordered. The rest would be sent in July or August. I ordered him to request the governor’s permission to bring them onto the island as soon as possible to prevent the Chinese from taking it from our hands again as has happened before.
22 News has arrived from Edo that twenty days ago eighteen arsonists had been caught. They are a bunch of poor noblemen without employment. One of their principal accomplices had given them away to the government. This person had not only been set free – even though he had participated in these heinous crimes for quite some time – but the Shogun had presented him with one hundred gold ōban, which is about 5000 taels. Moreover, he had been provided with an allowance and a fine house. Two or three of them were on the run. Everywhere they were on the look-out for them. This evil bunch had also changed their ordinary names into Fire, Water, Smoke, Mist and suchlike, to be unidentifiable. Today I have contracted for the 40,000 pieces of porcelain which still remain on the order for Mocha with a certain Sinseijmon, a former servant of Interpreter Sukezaemon, to be made in Hizen according to the samples. In his presence I gave Sukezaemon 500 taels of schuitzilver, on condition that they will all be ready in August and be delivered here on the island and a few samples of each kind should be sent ahead.
25 Magobei told me that in Miyako the price for Bengal silk is rising by the day. It is in great demand, because experience has taught them that it is more suitable for making fine gowns than the white raw Chinese silk. Previously, the Bengal silk was valued per pack of 50 catties at 50 taels less, but nowadays it is valued as much as the Chinese silk and sold for the same price.
28–31 In these four days six Chinese junks belonging to Coxinga’s territory left for Anhai, Amoy, and Shacheng. According to the interpreters, they are carrying about 450,000 taels of silver, some foodstuffs, and some copper.
June
1 Fine weather. In the morning, four richly-laden Chinese junks returned to Anhai. In the afternoon, the secretary of Nabeshima Shinano-no-kami, Lord of Hizen, who is still in Edo, arrived with many vessels and 2000 men to replace the men of Hakata as shogunal guards at the entrance of the bay.
2 The 389 barrels of camphor have been weighed. Their net weight is 18,688 catties. The barrels have been pasted over and bound with ropes and prepared for shipping.
8 News has arrived from Edo that the three arsonists on the run, whom I mentioned on the 22nd of last month, have been caught. They have been executed with the other eighteen men by slowly being burnt to death after many tortures. Many others are being caught every day. For six or seven weeks now there has been no fire in that great city. Furthermore, the Shogun has recently shared out liberal gifts from his father’s estate to several lords. It is said that the previous Shoguns also did so shortly after their accession and at the beginning of their reign. Apparently in this case it had been postponed because of his youth or for other reasons. The Lord of Satsuma has received not only a thousand gold ōban, which are worth about 50,000 taels, but also a thousand thin, unpadded silk gowns, which are used at this time of year. The other principal lords have received gifts accordingly. This is causing a rise in the price of silk in Miyako.
12 Today is Gogatsu gonichi or the 5th day of the 5th Japanese month, an ordinary holiday. In the early afternoon, all the interpreters came and told me that Burgemeester Shirōbei returned from Edo yesterday. They had received a letter from Senoosje, Chikugo-no-kami’s servant. He requested that we order three or four Javanese or Arakanese rattans for his master and that we deliver them with the goods he had ordered in Edo as soon as possible. The 2 or 3 gantang of tent wine, which we had left in the care of the landlord on our departure, had been delivered to Senoosje for his master. He would pay for them next year.
14 A Chinese junk arrived from Anhai. It is the first of the southern monsoon. It left here two months ago. It is carrying the following. [List].
15 Another junk arrived from the same place. [Cargo list; worth about 74,000 taels.] These junks are unusually early and are richly laden. The people think that this will cause another drop in the demand for Chinese goods in Miyako.
17 Governor Yohyōe asked if I had a pair of compasses, a globij bouckje14 and a Portuguese-Japanese dictionary, printed here in Amakusa in the past.15 Commissioner Hōjō Awa-no-kami in Edo had asked him for them. I handed the interpreter a pair of compasses, but I had neither book. I let His Honour know that I could supply him with a globij bouckje on the arrival of the ship, but the other book was unlikely to be found among our people. But I would ask around on the ships. Chikugo-no-kami had such a book, but it was lost when his house burnt down. Now not a single one can be found in Japan.
19 With the governor’s permission, under the guise of looking for medicinal herbs, all of us sailed with our otona and the interpreters to Fukahori, at the end of the bay. We walked through the village and looked around. We returned in time and also visited the garden of Intendant Heizō and a few temples surrounding it. We returned to our lodgings in the evening.
27 Today the carpenters finished the repairs to the four sampans. The two best ones have been given a whole new sheath and the other two have been repaired properly. The cost is 76 taels. We shall be able to use them for a few more years.
30 We have been told that the four buffaloes for the Lord of Kinokuni arrived safely in Osaka on the 18th.
July
5 Rainy weather and a stiff westerly wind. A junk from Anhai arrived in the roadstead. It had been underway for seventeen days.
7 Every day I have been hearing that copper is being delivered. Therefore, I ordered the interpreters to inquire after the quantity and the price, to see what we can do and if we can reach a fair price with the merchants, because the ships will arrive soon.
8 I received the specification of the cargo of the Anhai junk which arrived on the 5th. The rain had prevented it from being unloaded before. [Cargo list; worth about 80,000 taels in today’s market.] This junk also brought the news that Coxinga and the Tartars have been at war again near Amoy and that Coxinga’s men have beaten around 3000 Tartars and have seized many of their vessels.
9 In the presence of the otona and all the interpreters, we have tested the 14 new daatsen, which Wagenaer ordered to be made in Miyako last year following a proposal from the burgemeesters, with the knowledge of the governor, to prevent any disagreements and complaints from the merchants about the difference, against the correct old ones. We found that on the whole they accord. But the new ones would be to our advantage in the deliveries. To be correct, in their presence, I had 1600 taels of silver tenbin weights weighed. On these daatsen it shows on average 97 catties, which is a difference of 3 per cent with the silver weight, and calculated into pounds means 125 Dutch pounds for a picul, the one daats being slightly heavier than the other. But the greatest difference – apart from No 7 which has been rejected – is barely half a catty, which is not much on such a heavy weight. Thus we think that the new daatsen, which as stated accord on the whole with each other, will be better for taking receipt and delivery than the ones used so far. Therefore, we shall use them in future and leave the old ones to one side. But in order to avoid incurring the merchants’ displeasure, we shall show them to the main merchants of the five shogunal cities when they arrive here – probably this month – so that they can be used with their authority and the knowledge of the governors and the burgemeesters. Today our interpreters received a letter from Osaka from Shirōemon, in which he wrote that the four buffaloes had arrived after a journey of twelve days. They had been handed over to Tsoujemon, who is in charge of Kinokuni’s affairs. He would notify his master in Edo as soon as possible. Thus we can expect a letter and payment from this major-domo soon.
11 Magobei brought me further information about the copper. About 4000 piculs – belonging to Izumiya16 and his company –
Arrival of the Ooievaar
12 Around nine o’clock I saw a dispatch boat approaching swiftly. Shortly after Governor Yohyōe sent all the interpreters to inform me that a ship had been spotted off Nomo by the guards on the mountains. If we wished we could send a barge there. I had him thanked for the good news and immediately dispatched Junior Merchants Mulock and Carpentier with a note and oral instructions for the people on the ship. In the afternoon, I saw the ship sail into the bay on a stiff south-westerly wind. Shortly after, it dropped anchor in the roadstead and I learnt that it was the flute the Ooievaar and that she carried my successor Hendrick Indijck. She had left Batavia on 28 May in the company of the flute the Harp, which had separated from her on 25 June in dark and misty weather at 23 degrees north latitude east of Formosa off the island of Sannasanna. According to Their Honours’ orders they had sailed along the coast of Luzon, east of the Paracel Islands and Formosa. They both carried an excellent cargo worth 531,166 guilders, consisting of Bengal silk, European woollen cloth, Coromandel and Bengal fabrics, spices, rayskins, etcetera. The share of this ship is 268,539 guilders. The Lord be thanked for the safe and early arrival of this ship and may the Harp and the other ships also arrive here safely and soon. A stiff south-westerly wind continued to blow the entire evening with heavy rain, so that I could not go on board to welcome Indijck and accompany him ashore.
13 We could not unload the ship because of unremitting rain and hard wind. In the meantime, the four sampans have been put to water. When the rain let up in the afternoon, the crew of the ship was mustered and Indijck and the other men were brought ashore.
14–15 We still could not start the unloading because of the steady rain and the hard wind. The governor had me informed that another ship had been spotted from the mountain and he gave permission to send a vessel. I sent two junior merchants, but shortly after a Chinese junk came sailing in, carrying a white top sail, which had been mistaken from afar by the guards for a ship.
16 The weather has abated and the bongioisen came early to open the water-gates. We started to unload the Ooievaar and made good progress. Today all the packs of silk and Dutch cases have been brought ashore in good condition. Magobei told me that the junk which arrived from Anhai yesterday has brought news that Coxinga is under siege from the Tartars near Amoy. In all probability he will not be able to hold out much longer. Many of his men are fleeing. Yea, one of his principal generals is even supposed to have surrendered the stronghold he was in charge of to the Tartars without offering them any resistance and had even invited them in. This does not tally with the rumours that Coxinga and his men have designs on Formosa and Tayouan. The Tartar is keeping him busy in China and he has no time to think of other places, unless he is forced to flee there. But the Chinese are just saying so and they have told the governor as much. We hope to learn the real truth of the matter when our ships arrive from Tayouan. But that they are paralysed with fear for the Tartars is certain, because these Chinese, like those before them, have orders to leave half of their capital here in Japan and to take the other half back to China, as did the heads of the sixteen junks which arrived and left in the northern monsoon. [Cargo list; worth about 58,000 taels selling price.]
17 Today the cargo of the Ooievaar has been unloaded. Everything seems dry and in good condition and tallies with the bill of lading.
18 The ship has been inspected and the munitions have been brought ashore. The rudder has been left at our request.
19 Governor Yohyōe had the interpreters inform us that he will visit us shortly to view the rarities. Hence I had the cases opened and had them brought out. They are all in good condition.
22 We have opened the five packages with Bengal fabrics which the Ooievaar brought and inspected them. The two containing armozeens were in good order, but one package of chela regatty – which are disappointing – is eleven pieces short and another package has one too many. The package of taffachelas contains just eighty-six pieces instead of one hundred. We have made proper attestations to this.
23 After noon, the interpreters came to announce that news had come from Edo that Governor Kiemon has a large abscess on his back. The Japanese doctors there think it is very dangerous because he is an old, corpulent man and they fear for his life. We promptly conveyed our feelings of sadness to Governor Yohyōe according to this country’s custom and offered our assistance should he need any medicines or the attendance of the surgeon himself. This gentleman’s health is of great concern to us, because if he should die, the Company will lose a good friend.
24 In the morning, we heard that a few deputies will be sent to Kiemon in Edo by the four burgemeesters and other officials in charge of this city. Thus I asked Yohyōe if we could also send someone with some medicines. His Honour advised against it, thinking it would be too late. But then he changed his mind and in the afternoon he gave his permission. Therefore in the evening we hired a fast Japanese runner and prepared a box with some medicine for the tumour with a description of the way it should be used. I also wrote a note – for his secretary Fatsiroseijmon – and we gave it to the Japanese this same night, so that he can set off in the morning. It will undoubtedly please Kiemon, if he is still alive, and will attest to our fondness for him.
26 Today the confiscated equipage of the Lord of Karatsu, which has been stored in one of the warehouses here on the island for twelve years now, has been aired in the sun in the presence of Burgemeester Gotō Shōzaemon and one of the governor’s bongioisen. This is done once a year. In the afternoon, it was stored again.
27 In the evening, mail arrived from Edo with the news that Governor Kiemon had died there of the abscess on the 12th. He was 53 years old. Everyone in Nagasaki, high and low, is saddened by his death, because he was a good and gentle man. For the Company too it would have been desirable had he been able to continue as governor here for a while longer; he served here for about nine years and knew the ins-and-outs of our trade. We shall learn shortly who has been appointed to replace him.
28 Today I sent a letter to Satsuma to Cassaija Siobeoije to inform him that before the departure of the ships, he should send all the available camphor in excess of the 300 piculs which have been ordered, for the price we agreed on, as soon as possible.
31 Magobei told us that the copper merchants arrived last night and all are now in Nagasaki. They have brought about 6000 piculs. Thus I urged the otona and the interpreter, as soon as the seven days of mourning for Kiemon have ended, to ask Governor Yohyōe for permission for these merchants to be allowed here onto the island to negotiate with them on the price.
August
1 Fine weather, but hardly any wind. I had a letter of condolence prepared in Japanese according to this country’s custom expressing our sorrow for the death of Governor Kiemon. With Yohyōe’s knowledge, it will be sent with express mail tomorrow morning by the four stadsburgemeesters to Edo to his eldest son, Kainoshō Denpachirō. We are eagerly looking forward to the arrival of the flute the Harp. It is now thirty-seven days since she separated from the Ooievaar, which arrived here on the 12th of last month,
3 I sent the interpreters to ask the governor for permission for the purchase of copper and that the merchants be allowed to come to us. The governor gave his permission today and I sent notice to all the copper merchants to come as soon as possible.
4 We have been hearing rumours that a ship has been spotted in the province of Siongock, which is situated between Korea and Tsushima in the north. I hope it is true and that it is the Harp, which had orders to sail to the north in misty conditions and must have reached the Korean islands. We are eagerly waiting for confirmation.
5 Today we have been told that on the 25th of last month, one of the warehouses of Osaka Castle where gunpowder had been made and stored had been struck by lightning. Fire broke out and a large part of the castle and the tower, including many houses surrounding it, was reduced to ashes. A great number of people are said to have lost their lives.
6 In the afternoon, the interpreters and the otona came with six factors or deputies of the principal copper merchants. I told them that we were willing to buy a good batch of the fine bar-copper which they had brought if the price was right. After a long story about the high price of this mineral, they demanded 13 taels per picul. I offered them 11 taels and finally the same price as we paid two to four years ago, namely 11.4 taels. They would not accept.
9 I sent for all the interpreters to bring the copper merchants again to make a deal with them. Time is passing by. They came together. After hard negotiations, we came to an agreement. They will deliver the entire quantity of fine bar-copper which they have brought – which they claim is about 11,000–12,000 piculs – at 11.8 taels a picul. It will be weighed on the Company’s daats. This is 2 mas a picul less than what we paid last year. At this time – when rice is still expensive – this is truly a fair price.
10 Several merchants have delivered a good quantity of copper. In the meantime we made preparations for a proper receipt.
11 In the morning, we started to weigh the copper with four daatsen. In the meantime, Governor Yohyōe sent the interpreters to inform me that last night three different barges from Nomo and Fukahori had brought him tidings that two ships had been spotted by the guards off the eastern side of the Bight of Amakusa. He gave us permission to send some people. I sent two barges with three Dutchmen, two interpreters and two bongioisen. But just today the wind has been blowing stiffly from the north and they could not find anything. In the meantime we received, weighed and packed 1018 piculs of fine bar-copper, of a very pure quality, in new chests. The chests can serve as ballast for the ships that will arrive.
Arrival of the Venenburg
13 In the afternoon – Thank the Lord – the flute the Venenburg arrived safely in the roadstead. She is carrying a cargo from Batavia worth 205,283 guilders and from Siam a cargo worth 76,518 guilders. [Lists]. There has been another rumour in the city that a ship has been spotted to the north off Shimonoseki, but the governor has not received any news yet. To find out the truth of it, especially because the Harp is failing to appear, a man has been sent there over land and he will return in seven days with certain news.
14 Early in the morning, Master Cornelis Stamper of the Ooievaar sent me a note to inform me that his sailmaker, named Zacharias Harmansen Compas, who had been suffering from colic for some days, had died last night. I had a coffin made and, after the governor had given permission, his body was buried in the usual burial ground in the presence of several men. The bongioisen came around nine o’clock and opened the water-gates. I went to the Venenburg. The crew was mustered and given instructions on how to behave here. We then started to unload the ship and we made good progress. Today we unloaded more than 1200 bundles of skins and a batch of sappanwood. With the governor’s knowledge, a few deputies of the great lord Tōdō Daigaku-sama have fetched the white monkey which the Ooievaar has brought at his request of last year. They will pay for it later.
15 A Chinese junk arrived in the roadstead, the first since one month. It took seventy-two days to sail from Siam hither and it is loaded with sappanwood, boreh-boreh, old pinang, buffalo-horns and suchlike inferior goods, worth about 6000 taels. The governor had us informed that a ship had been spotted by the guards at Nomo. I dispatched Reijniersen and Mulock with two interpreters and the governor’s bongiois. They returned in the evening and reported that they had seen a ship from the mountain, but it was still far out at sea. Because evening was approaching, they thought it best not to sail there in this simple Japanese vessel. Today we unloaded all the Bengal silk and other packages and a good batch of cowhides, sappanwood and the namrak from the Venenburg.
Arrival of the Kalf
17 In the morning, all the ballast stone was removed from the Venenburg. We began to ballast her with copper and for the time being loaded 1500 new well-made chests. The Kalf has arrived in the roadstead. During the night, three Chinese junks arrived, two from Quinam and one from Siam, of which Rocquan is the nachoda. The specification of their cargoes will be listed at the end in a separate list of the incoming junks because the junks will not be unloaded for some days because of the impending Japanese Feast of the Dead.
18 We could not unload the Kalf because of the rainy weather and the aforesaid feast. We have been busy receiving copper. Today we weighed 1119 piculs and packed them in solid chests. Yesterday the Kalf brought us good news about Makassar, the capture and destruction of seven Portuguese ships there, what happened in the roadstead of Goa and that our occupation had sent back a certain English ship loaded with cannon, mortars and grenades which had come to the aid of the Portuguese in Goa.
19 In the morning, it rained heavily and strong southerly winds blew. A Chinese junk arrived in the roadstead. It is rumoured it sailed from Anhai on 31 July. In the afternoon, another junk arrived from the same place. Its captain is Bijsia, who is the head and senior factor of Coxinga’s Chinese here. It is said to be richly laden and it left Anhai on 4 August. At that time nothing was known about the rumoured war on Formosa. Thus probably they were just threats and rumours. I trust that all is still well on Formosa and I hope this will be confirmed by the ships we are expecting. We cannot find out what these junks have brought, because they have not yet been unloaded. We shall specify the cargoes at the end in a separate memorandum. In the evening, another large junk was towed into the roadstead. It had struck a cliff when it was sailing into the bay, but all it suffered was some damage to the rudder. The tow-boats pulled it free.
20 Today is the 15th day of the 7th Japanese month and the Feast of the Dead, called Bon. We could not get any unloading done, nor was any copper weighed. In the morning, we heard that the junk which was towed into the roadstead last night had sailed from Batavia via Quinam. Its nachoda has been apprehended off the coast of Satsuma. In the afternoon, another junk arrived from Anhai. The southerly wind is assisting all the vessels which had been making no headway because of the calm and they are now appearing one after the other. We still have not heard anything about the Harp.
Late in the evening, the governor sent Interpreter Yosōemon to show us two old maps, one of Greater Java and the other of the North and two minted co[20]alders, one piece of linen on which some Moorish characters were written and a [21] cust, which had been found when the Batavian junk was inspected.
22 In the morning, Yohyōe sent us another pass to find out the contents. It had been issued in Siam by Opperhoofd Jan van Rijck on 8 July to the Chinese nachoda Rocquan, whose junk is now being unloaded. The bongioisen came around nine o’clock and they opened the water-gates. We went to the Kalf, mustered the crew and read them the instructions with points of behaviour. Then we started to unload. I had a conversation with the master about the voyage and he told me that he had seen a part of a top through which the nails were still sticking floating off the north point of Formosa. We fear it might be a sad sign of the costly-laden flute the Harp. In the afternoon, the man whom we had sent to the province of Siongock eight days ago to find out if there was any truth to the rumours that a ship had been spotted in the north behind Shimonoseki returned. He reported that he had asked around and had been on top of the mountain, but no ship or anything like a ship had been heard of. He also brought a letter stating the same, written by the bongiois there.
23 Before dawn another Anhai junk arrived. We proceeded to unload the Kalf and in the evening, after it was empty, we loaded 350 piculs of copper to ballast her.
24 Today we packed 1750 piculs of copper in sturdy chests and loaded them on the Kalf. The ship has now 2100 piculs of ballast. In the afternoon, a junk arrived from Patani, but it had stopped in China and loaded a good batch of silk and silk piece-goods there. We shall soon find out what it is carrying.
25 We have been busy receiving copper. Governor Yohyōe sent for all the rarities which have come this year to inspect them. In the afternoon, he returned most of them.
26 We have been busy receiving copper. While we were weighing, we discovered that in some of the chests belonging to Izumiya Rihyōe, which had been delivered to the island today, copper of inferior quality had been mixed with the good quality. Although we are certain that there will be little of this kind among the batch which we received today, we have refused to accept any of the chests to prevent any further occurrences. The supplier – who left the island shamefaced – had to put them back. Thus we received just 269 piculs of good quality copper today.
27 Early in the morning, I sent for all the interpreters and the otona and Rihyōe’s servant, who had tried to deliver the aforesaid copper. They appeared together and I told them what happened yesterday. They also complained, but the supplier could only give some feeble excuses, claiming that just 40–50 chests of such mixed copper – which he had brought to sell to the Chinese – had been among the whole batch. We spent most of the morning in this discussion and finally I accepted the 380 chests which had been weighed and packed yesterday so that our large order for copper – which will be short anyway – be fulfilled as far as possible. The more so because little difference is made between quality and price, the inferior kind being sold in a separate sale for just 3 mas per picul less. I stipulated that he give a rebate of 70 taels and that all the chests of copper on the island belonging to him which had not yet been weighed, be opened and inspected.
28 We have weighed the last of the fine bar-copper, 655 piculs, which has been brought to Nagasaki. We have received just 6568 piculs. This is little compared to previous years. I am afraid that the order will fall very much short. We have heard that no more than 4000 piculs will be brought. The merchants are reluctant to bring more, because last year they had brought a great quantity and they had been left stuck with more than half. Thus I sent for the merchants and urged them to bring more, promising them that we shall accept all the fine copper which is brought here before the 10th day of the 9th month for the former price.
29 In the afternoon, I asked the governor for permission to load the copper in the Venenburg tomorrow. He gave his permission. He would send the bongioisen early in the morning.
30 We have finally managed to get a sound barge with eight strong men ready to row to Tsushima. Interpreter Yosōemon’s brother left with them in the evening. He is carrying letters from the interpreters and also a letter from this governor and the agent of Tsushima who resides here. This will aid him everywhere in his inquiries after any sightings of the ship, especially because this is the principal time of daily traffic for the Korean trading vessels sailing
31 Sukezaemon told us that last night he had been told by some Chinese interpreters that Coxinga was at present keeping quiet on the island of Amoy. The island was being besieged by the Tartars and no one could go in or out and thus Coxinga had no access to food. The three Cantonese junks which were here last year had also been forbidden to sail away this year. The Tartars seem to want to keep their army at sea together against Coxinga. If this is true, this protracted war will now come to an end shortly. Yesterday several important merchants from Miyako, Osaka and Sakai arrived. They confirmed the sad news of the destruction of Osaka Castle, which we related on the 5th. They also related how some of the castle’s heavy gates, fitted with iron, came down seven or eight miles away, badly damaging several houses and high temples. When the gunpowder exploded, many people, including three people from the castle, were lifted up and cast down unharmed in Tennōji, which is 1½ miles away. Just a few of the 300,000 bales of rice which had been kept inside the castle were found scattered here and there. This disaster has caused enormous destruction in Osaka, unheard of in earlier times. The Shogun has expressly sent Councillor Inaba Mino-no-kami from Edo to investigate. We have loaded a further 600 piculs of copper on the Venenburg, which means that the ship now has 3500 chests.
September
1 A few days ago Magobei told us that a private merchant had brought a batch of camphor of about 50–60 piculs from Satsuma. I told him to ask the price. Today the interpreter told me that he had haggled with the owner for a long time, but that the latter would not accept one candareen less than [?22] taels per picul.
2 Early in the morning, we brought out some packages of Bengal silk and sorted them. They were then taken to the display warehouses, so that they can be opened and displayed as soon as we can hold the first sale. In the afternoon, on behalf of Governor Yohyōe, the interpreters and the otona came to inquire what measures we intend to take against the thefts which – so the governor had been told – are perpetrated every year. For we shall shortly start selling our goods and the island will then be open to everyone. I told them – as I have done several times before – that it would be desirable if all Japanese workmen removed their katabira and were searched on leaving the island in the evening. The innocent would certainly not object and the guilty who were planning on stealing would be scared off.
3 We have been receiving, weighing and packing a total of 649 piculs of copper. A Chinese junk has been towed into the roadstead. It is from Cambodia. The camphor which I mentioned on the 1st has been brought on the island today. We have weighed it and it comes to 5441[?]23 catties net weight in 132 barrels. We have handed Sabrojemon, the supplier, a debenture for his money.
4 I had 180 packages of the second grade of Bengal spun silk taken to one of the display attics to be sold at the first sale. The 132 barrels of camphor have been transferred to other barrels, which have been nailed up and pasted over for transport. The cargo of the Cambodian junk which arrived yesterday consists of [list].
5 In the evening, a junk arrived from Siam. It had been under way for three months and had spent a long time off the coast of Satsuma where it had been becalmed. It is said to be loaded with sappanwood, namrak, boreh-boreh, old pinang, black sugar and buffalo-horns, worth no more than 8000 taels selling price.
6 Shortly after noon, Governor Yohyōe came on the island with the four stadsburgemeesters. As soon as I heard of this, I went to meet him and escorted him to my house. When he was seated, he asked some questions and then requested to see some of the rarities that had been brought this year. I showed them to him and he was very pleased. He said that they included several objects which would please the Shogun a great deal. He spent half an hour looking at them and in the meantime tasted some tent wine and some almonds. Then he left, expressing his gratitude. He said that it was now dark and rainy and he would come again shortly on a clear day.
7 Early in the morning, in rainy weather, Nachoda Wansick arrived with his junk from Patani. The journey took seventy-five days because of calm weather and adverse wind. His cargo consists mainly of [list] worth about 10,000 taels. In the afternoon, a junk from Quinam arrived. It had sailed via Anhai and apart from his Quinamese goods it brought [list].
8 The man whom we had dispatched to Edo on 25 July with medicines for Governor Kiemon returned. He brought a letter from Kiemon’s eldest son Denpachirō. He was grateful for the medicines we had sent. Although his father had died, he would like to keep the medicines as mementoes from us and he had informed Councillor Izu-no-kami of this. The man also brought the news that every day arsonists were being caught at the Court and the newly-appointed Governor of Nagasaki, Tsumagi Hikoemon-dono, would depart on the 20th.
9 A batch of the ballast stone has been lifted from the Ooievaar and brought ashore. Tomorrow copper will be loaded instead.
10 Early in the morning, with heavy rain and a stiff south-westerly wind, a Chinese junk arrived from Siam. It had also spent a long time off the coast of Satsuma. In the afternoon, a junk arrived from Siam with sails made of Coromandel cloth. It is said that the junk is carrying twenty-two Moors who had chartered it in Siam from the Chinese. They had equipped it in Siam with Siamese goods and various kinds of cloth and other Moorish commodities, which they had brought in great quantities to Siam via Tenasserim. We shall find out more when the junk has been unloaded. It is clear that the trade of the Moors in this place could be very harmful to the interests of the Company.24
Arrival of the Spreeuw
12 After the crew had been mustered, we started to unload the Spreeuw and we made such good progress that all the skins were unloaded by the afternoon. The only tasks remaining were the inspection and taking the munitions ashore. In the evening, the governor had us informed that the Shogun did not need the lead at present and because we are not allowed to sell it to anyone else, it shall remain in the ship as ballast for the time being. After the governor had informed us that a ship had been spotted, I dispatched two barges with some of our men. When they returned at midnight, they reported that they had been on top of the mountain at Nomo and they had spotted a ship far out at sea, or so it seemed, because it was rather hazy. They thought it better not to go out there at night in their simple vessel, the wind being adverse as well. We hope that tomorrow will bring further news.
13 The Spreeuw has been inspected and the munitions have been brought ashore. But the rudder could remain in the ship at our request. We have been given the specifications of the cargo of the Moorish Chinese junk which arrived here from Siam on the 6th. [List.]
Arrival of the Immenhorn
14 Continuous heavy rain and a northerly wind. In the morning, we sent a swift barge to the ship to see if she needed tow-boats. In the afternoon, we received news that she lay anchored off Iōshima, five Japanese miles away, and could not proceed because of adverse wind. I promptly sent twenty barges to tow the ship and in the evening she arrived in the roadstead. It is the flute the Immenhorn, which Governor Frederik Coyett had sent expressly from Tayouan to Chilung on 18 July with the merchants David Harthouwer and Mattheus Gommersbagh and which had left Chilung on 21 August with part of the salvaged goods from the wrecked flute the Harp.26
15 Today we have unloaded the Immenhorn. We discovered that the wet and dried silk were producing such a terrible stench that the bongioisen and all the other Japanese had to plug their noses. In the afternoon, Nachoda Siouniquan arrived from Anhai with a costly-laden junk. In the evening, the governor had us notified that it was now the 11th day of the 8th month and that we should proceed with our trade the sooner the better to be ready to leave on the 20th day of the 9th month, which is 24 October. I told the interpreters that we could start trading in a few days, but that first we should unload the ballast from the Ooievaar and replace it with the remaining copper. We should also inspect the wet goods which the Immenhorn has brought and dry them and sort them, which would take a whole day at least.
16 In the morning, I commissioned the four junior merchants, [Mulock], Carpentier, De Roij and Quarles to open all the packages and chests brought by the Immenhorn and to check them to see if they accorded with the numbers on the old invoice, so that we could ascertain how much had been salvaged of the Harp’s cargo. They spent most of the day doing this and only failed to weigh the mercury and the loose silk. I sent the interpreters and the otona to the governor to thank him for the help and friendship which the Ryūkyūan people – because of the order the Japanese maintain on Torishima or Harp’s [sic] Island – had bestowed so generously on our people after the wrecking of the ship. For we believe that if those people had not been so helpful, little of the costly load could have been salvaged. They had done the Company a great service. On their return they reported that they had informed Yohyōe of what I had stated and he had been very pleased. He would send a letter of gratitude to Satsuma tomorrow. He would also notify the councillors at the Court on our behalf. The Lord of Satsuma will also receive great honours at the Court on account of this accident, because it clearly proves that he complies with the Shogun’s orders. The Shogun will be pleased that everywhere, even on an island situated so distant from Japan, such good order is maintained.
17 The junior merchants have been busy opening the loose silk and weighing it. Thus we finished checking the goods from the Harp brought here by the Immenhorn. The experts have inspected all the San Thome rayskins which the Ooievaar brought. They selected twenty rare pieces. These were sealed and taken to the governor’s house by the interpreters.
18 We have been busy all day bringing out, selecting and displaying the goods selected for the first sale, consisting of 39 different batches. We prepared everything for the viewing tomorrow. After the governor had seen the list of the sale, he let us know that we could proceed. He had given strict orders, in particular about theft. Tomorrow only known merchants and their factors would be allowed inside and all the rabble would be kept away from the island. Four servants and bongioisen from his house would serve as guardsmen at the gate. All the small pedlars would no longer be allowed to sit in the passageways of the houses, as before, but they would have to stay in a secluded separate spot near the gate. Strict orders have been issued to prevent thefts as much as possible.
19 After the four burgemeesters had appeared and had inspected everything, the merchants were invited in at ten o’clock. They inspected all the displayed goods at their leisure without any jostling, for there were half as many people as used to come in the warehouses.27
20 Fine weather. In the morning, some important merchants again inspected the goods on display, the damaged silk and the damaged European goods from the Harp’s cargo, brought by the Immenhorn, to their satisfaction. Then at noon the four burgemeesters appeared and shortly after we all went to the place of sale. We held the first sale, which, Thank the Lord, went well. Even the damp Bengal silk which is badly soiled by the salt water and looks unsightly, still raised 234.3 taels a picul, which is a high price and beyond everyone’s expectation. This is a profit of 60 per cent. The damaged European goods such as black lakenen, cloth rash, rassetten, perpetuanas and kersey also made a fair profit, but the carmine red lakenen, which are very soiled and have rotted along the folds, only raised their cost price. But it looks as if all the goods salvaged from the Harp’s cargo will be sold for a fair profit.
21 We began early to deliver the goods we sold yesterday to the merchants. By the evening all the piece-goods and twenty-five of the thirty-nine lots displayed had been delivered.
22 We have delivered more bulk goods and we have brought out more commodities to be displayed tomorrow. In the evening, a junk arrived from Anhai with a small cargo worth 6000 taels. It will not hamper us in our trade.
23 Some rain in the morning, but by noon it cleared. Thus we hurried to bring out the Siamese deerskins and the other goods we have selected for sale, consisting of forty-one lots. After everything was ready, the burgemeesters came and subsequently a whole crowd of merchants. The display warehouses were opened for all.
24 In the morning, some of the European goods and the silk were inspected again. At noon we started our second sale, which also went well. The Bengal cabessa silk raised 387 taels and the bariga silk 220 taels, which is 63 taels more per picul than last year for the former and 53 taels more for the latter. The European goods all raised fair prices, except for the red laken, the quality of which is too inferior and the dye is too brown, some even raised more than last year. This can all be ascertained from the specification. Before evening fell, we delivered twelve lots to the buyers.
25 Fine weather. The whole day we have been busy delivering the goods we sold yesterday. The fine weather aided us and by the evening all the goods, except for the second kind of Bengal silk, had been delivered to their buyers. Now we are in the middle of our trade and this is the time one usually visits the governor with gifts. Thus I had the interpreters ask when it would be convenient for us to do so. The reply was that we should wait till the new governor is also present or when news arrived from Edo about the date of his arrival. For this reason Yohyōe has refused to accept any gifts, but has postponed it.
26 The first kind of Bengal silk, the cloves and rasamala have been weighed. The remaining Siamese deerskins and cowhides have been delivered to the buyers.
27 The Bengal bariga silk has been weighed. Because the merchants keep looking for the arrival of Kouquan from Tonkin, we have decided to offer most of the Bengal silk for sale as soon as possible. For if this Chinese appears, he might harm our sale of the silk.
28 Early in the morning, we had all the remaining Bengal silk brought out, opened and sorted. It will be put on display tomorrow. We discovered that the three kinds of silk [??leria]28 were of a very poor quality for their price.
29 We brought out some European and Coromandel goods. When everything was ready, I had the kanban or sales notice affixed and the merchants promptly came on the island and inspected the displayed lots at their ease. In the evening, the landlord or factor of the Lord of Satsuma who resides here came to inquire what goods of the wrecked Harp remained on the island. The lord’s secretary had written to him from Satsuma about this. I notified him as best as I could and I added that I thought that a vessel would be sent from Tayouan as soon as possible to fetch them. He thought that this would be desirable, for if we did not fetch the goods ourselves, they would have to be brought to Satsuma first and then here. The goods could not remain on the island. The master of the Immenhorn has told me that when they were leaving the island in the evening, the huts and tents in which our people had been housed had caught alight, but he did not know the cause of it. I also passed on this information to the factor and added that no doubt it had been caused by the hurry and that there might have been an accident in the pantry or a lit fuse, because those huts had been constructed of straw and long grass. The islanders should not be suspicious of us or fear that it had been done on purpose, for we were and would remain most grateful to them for the help they had given our people. The landlord understood what I had told him and he promised to write to Satsuma and explain it all. He also requested a reading glass for the lord and I obliged him.
October
1 Today we weighed several small lots of the silk we sold yesterday and we delivered all the piece-goods. We also brought out the gifts we have selected for the governor and the burgemeesters, packed them and prepared everything for tomorrow.
2 Around noon, together with Indijck and the merchants Hogenhouck and Reijniersen, I took the annual gifts to Governor Yohyōe, Intendant Heizō and the four burgemeesters of this city, Sakuemon, Shirōbei-dono, Hikoemon and Shirōbei-dono.29 They all accepted them with gratitude. The burgemeesters entertained us at their homes.
4 We started early to deliver silk, but there were problems again with the unreasonable buyers about the weighing of it and also with the delivery of the Siamese sappanwood. Today we received 560 piculs of copper weighed on two daatsen. The remaining beams have also been lifted from the Spreeuw.
5 Today is the 1st day of the 9th Japanese month. On this day the citizens of this city pay their annual visit to the governors and present them with gifts. Thus we could only begin weighing copper in the afternoon, nor could we do anything about the Bengal silk, half of which has been delivered. This inconveniences us greatly as we have little time left.
6 Five hundred sows of lead have been transshipped from the Spreeuw onto the Immenhorn for Tayouan. The remaining goods have been brought out and put on display for tomorrow’s viewing. In response to our request to be able to buy rice and wheat, the interpreters brought the governor’s reply that because of the high price, we could only buy enough rice for provisioning the ships, but we could buy and export 3000–4000 bales of wheat if we so wished.
7 In the morning, all the Formosan hides were put on display and the kanban or sales notice was affixed. Then merchants came to view the goods.
8 In the afternoon, we sold the remaining commodities and the skins for good prices. We delivered several lots before evening fell.
9 Today most of the goods sold have been delivered to the buyers, including part of the skins. Only the elk hides and the rattan need to be weighed. In the evening, we weighed 50,000 taels of schuitzilver and packed them for shipment to Tayouan – for Siam – on the Immenhorn.
10 A Chinese junk from Anhai has been towed into the roadstead. It had spent a long time off Satsuma. Its cargo is small and just worth 5000 taels. In the afternoon, the copper merchants appeared. We wished to buy a batch of crude Chinese copper for Surat – as stated in our resolution – but we could not agree on the price. They wanted 11.5 taels per picul which is the price of fine copper. In order to fulfil the order as much as we can, we offered them 11 taels, which is above its value. But it was in vain. They seem to think that we need it and will prise it from their hands. They are trying to make up for the interest which they had to pay for the copper that was left on their hands last year, but they will find that they are deluding themselves.
11 A Japanese holiday.30 A Chinese junk arrived full of people, but because of the holiday they had to remain on it. In the afternoon, we negotiated with the grain suppliers about the price for wheat and finally we reached an agreement, namely 148 candareens per bale of 33 or 34 gantang of fresh wheat, which is reasonable, for last year we paid [1?]62 candareens.
12 Another junk arrived full of merchants, it had sailed from Zhoushan together with the previous one. The fifty pieces of black, red and blue laken from the Harp’s cargo brought by the Immenhorn had been delivered according to the invoice without having been measured. Now that the merchants have measured it in the city, they found that it is much too short, which is possible, because it might have shrunk because of the salt water. The merchants have been asking for compensation and we have refused them, because we offered to measure it when we delivered it. After much discussion, we have reached an agreement and they will accept it this time to prevent future problems and through the mediation of the interpreters Magobei and Sukezaemon they have been given satisfaction.
13 Fine weather. Another Japanese holiday. We have to put off loading the Venenburg till tomorrow. In the meantime, we have packed the cabinets, porcelain and other goods which are to be shipped on the Venenburg.
14 Fine weather. We shipped the remaining copper and the wheat to the Venenburg. Because there are so many suppliers of wheat, we found that there were some bales which were too light and which contained old wheat. I had the batch removed from the island immediately, which will ensure that the others will be more careful and will only deliver good wheat and full bales.
Departure of the Venenburg and the Immenhorn
15 By the evening, we were finished loading the Venenburg and the Immenhorn.
16 Last night the northerly wind kept blowing and today as well, thus the two ships will have made good progress by the light of the moon. The fishermen coming in have not seen them. We had the copper weighed on three daatsen. The remaining rattan has been delivered after much delay caused by the unreasonable complaints of the buyers about the weighing. Two of the main copper merchants had the interpreters inform us that they were willing to sell their crude copper, for which we had offered them 11 taels on the 10th. In this way they want to settle their debit for goods sold.
17 In the morning, when we were busy [31] the crude copper, we noticed on opening the chests that on the bottom of all the lots, without exception, there was much inferior quality, soiled, brittle copper mixed in between. Because time is short, we could not put it off and we decided not32
18 Rainy weather. The interpreters came to inform me that the Lord of Hizen, whose men are on guard duty in the bay this year, will visit us on the 20th day of the 9th month, which is the 24th, to see the ships depart. Thus we should be ready on that date. I told them that we still had to receive much copper and other goods and we are expecting the camphor which is already on its way from Satsuma and we had other pressing business to attend to. We might not be ready at that precise time, but we would try our best. They themselves could understand that it might not be possible to leave on that date and they promised to tell Burgemeester Sakuemon. I did not tell them to do so or to ask for an extension, but to find out what their thoughts were because the governor is not in a hurry to leave for Edo since his successor has not yet arrived. In the meantime, we were also busy settling accounts. We also received a batch of copper and some porcelain for Surat.
20 We received a further 450 piculs of goki and crude copper as a sample for Surat. 1300 piculs of copper, 249 barrels of camphor and 270 packs of porcelain have been shipped to the Ooievaar. In the evening, a heavy shower surprised us which put a stop to the loading of the Ooievaar.
21 We have loaded 1000 piculs of copper on the Spreeuw and 100 chests of silver.
22 On the orders of Governor Yohyōe, in the presence of Indijck and Merchant Hogenhouck, the interpreters and the otona showed me a petition by the Chinese of the junk which had been seized by the crew of the Breukelen and the Urk off Pulau Capas three years ago and which had later stranded off Tayouan. They also showed me a sworn statement in which the Chinese had calculated their losses. The governor notified us that we should compensate these Chinese now or next year, for Coxinga had expressly forbidden them33
23 In the morning, the joint interpreters came to announce that Governor Yohyōe stood firm on his previous pronouncement. He had said that next year we should restitute the Chinese here the sum of 27,096.6 taels, on account of the fact that we had violated the Shogun’s order by taking this junk which was sailing hither with its cargo. Neither His Majesty nor the councillors were aware of this. I should sort out in Batavia that permission be given to settle this, because refusal would lead to the money being taken from the Company’s assets here and the Chinese would be paid in that way. This was the governor’s advice to us. If the Governor-General took offence at this and ended the trade with this empire, he should do as he pleased. But whichever way, this pretension should be settled next year. After many arguments on both sides, the interpreters humbly requested that when I arrived in Batavia, I should explain this matter fully and politely to Their Honours, to avoid such a small difference being the cause of a rift between us. They also said that they would request the governors’ permission to send a letter to Batavia. I replied that I should explain everything that happened here with regard to the Company’s affairs clearly to Their Honours and if they also wanted to send a letter, they should do as they pleased.
Departure of the Ooievaar and the Spreeuw
25 In the morning, the water-gate was opened and the schuitzilver was loaded on the Ooievaar and the Spreeuw. After both ships had been mustered, they were dispatched, but because of the steady south-westerly wind they had to ply against the wind. In the evening, they had to drop anchor, because the Ooievaar ran aground on account of the tacking and the low tide, but she suffered no damage. [Lists of the cargoes of the Ooievaar, Spreeuw and Kalf.] The total of value of the three ships sailing in company to Malacca is 1,344,55[0] guilders.
26 All is ready and in the company of Merchants Indijck and Hogenhouck I went to the city to bid farewell to Governor Yohyōe. He wished me a safe journey and politely exhorted me that when I arrived in Batavia,
This dagregister has many stains and is riddled with worm-holes. Lines, especially near the bottom of the pages, are sometimes illegible. The original cannot be consulted because it is in a bad state and unfortunately there is no other copy of the dagregister. The microfilm had to be used, the quality of which is rather poor.
Not clearly legible.
Sic. 131,782 guilders.
Worm-hole.
Worm-hole. Probably Zaatsin (Shacheng).
Sic. In this case 2 or 7 January 1660.
Sic. Shinkichi had accompanied Wagenaer in 1657 and had witnessed the horrendous fire in Edo.
Sic. See 24 May 1652, note.
The Toki-no-kane of Honkokuchō (present Muromachi) in the Nihonbashi district. A new bell, made in 1711, was relocated in 1930 to the historic site of the Kodenmachō prison, presently in Jūshikōen.
Worm-hole.
Ambroise Paré (ca. 1510–1590), French surgeon, regarded as the father of modern surgery. As an army surgeon he gained surgical experience and became personal physician to four French kings. He introduced a more effective treatment of gunshot wounds and developed the tying of large arteries instead of cauterization to check haemorrhaging. He also introduced the implantation of teeth, artificial limbs and artificial eyes and invented many scientific instruments. The book mentioned would be De chirurgie ende alle de opera ofte wercken, various editions.
Worm-hole.
Worm-hole.
A manual on the use of globes. P.C.J. van der Krogt, who deals with these manuals in his doctoral thesis Globi Neerlandici. De globeproduktie in de Nederlanden (Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht, 1989), refers on pp. 215–216 to a resolution of the Amsterdam Chamber of the VOC dated 1655, wherein the directors decided that there should be two globes on board a ship and that the master and the first mate would each receive a globij boeck, worth ƒ1:8.
Dictionarium Latino Lusitanicum, Ac Iaponicum (Amakusa, 1595).
Worm-hole.
Shichiseki also known as Tanabata, Dutch Sterrefeest.
The Dutch commonly referred to Burma as the ‘Kingdom of Pegu’. Pegu was the capital of Burma at the time that the Dutch first settled there, but the court and the capital were later transferred to Ava. In March 1659 the newly-established Manchu rulers of China overran the south-western Chinese province of Yunnan, driving away the remaining loyalists of the Ming Dynasty. The latter descended upon Ava and overpowered the Burmese troops sent to fight them. The Chinese seized the foreign quarter of Ava, but the Burmese army managed to repulse them and finally make them withdraw. See Dijk, Wil O., Seventeenth-century Burma and the Dutch East India Company, 1634–1680 (Singapore: Singapore University Press, 2006), p. 101.
The war of succession between Shah Jahan’s eldest son Dara Shukoh and Aurangzeb, his third son.
Illegible on the film.
Illegible on the film.
Worm-hole.
Not clearly legible.
Part of these lines is badly damaged.
Badly damaged and illegible.
Partly illegible.
This part is badly damaged.
Illegible.
One of the Shirōbei may be Takashima Shirōbei Shigesada, who died in 1673, but had already resigned in 1636. The other would be Takashima Shirōbei Shigeaki.
The Kunchi Festival.
Illegible, worm-hole. It might be ‘weighing’.
These last three lines are full of worm-holes.
Badly damaged.