Lands of Red and Gold #21: The Third World
Lands of Red and Gold #21: The Third World
“My intention is to demonstrate briefly and clearly that the Dutch – that is to say, the subjects of the United Netherlands – have the right to sail to the East Indies, as they are doing now, and to engage in trade with the people there. I shall base my argument on the following most specific and unimpeachable axiom of the Law of Nations, called a primary rule or first principle, the spirit which of which is self-evident and immutable, to wit: Every nation is free to travel to every other nation, and trade with it.”
- Hugo Grotius, Mare liberum, 1609
* * *
To his exalted majesty’s servant Namai Urdera, governor of the garrison-city of Archers Nest, from Birring Gabi, Chief Watcher of the West and Seventh Councillor [of Star Hill]: May the fortunate stars watch over you and the wanderers [planets] bring you joy and prosperity. May you know your path as it stretches out before you in this life, your lives past, and your lives yet to come.
Take heed and beware: on the night these raw-skinned strangers arrived, four stars were ripped from the Python [1] and descended to the earth. Know this to be true: four greater kuru have crossed over into the mortal realm. Consider and understand: this augurs a time of great consternation, of potent forces at work.
Answers may be found, if you contemplate the Python. Prey it finds, dangers it dispatches, not by poison or by swift strike, but by the slow embrace of the crushing death. If war the raw-skins offer, resolution will not be found in one swift strike. Measured, persistent, and unyielding action must be your response. If peace the raw-skins offer, likewise let the wisdom of the Python guide your steps, while considering always that even the pacifistic may cause harm through mischance or greed.
* * *
December 1619
Batavia Fort, Java
Rain poured onto the roof, a steady drumbeat of water which had started a month before and which would continue for several more months – the annual rhythm of the monsoons. This building, the new residence of the Governor-General of the East Indies, had been thrown up hastily, from the look of it. As Commander Frederik de Houtman walked in, with Councillor Jacob d’Edsel at his side, he could only hope that the rapid construction had been enough to withstand the endless rains.
Of course, if he had had his way, he would have met with Governor-General Jan Coen months earlier, before the monsoon started. Alas, fortune had conspired against him. Earlier this year, Coen had moved the headquarters of the Company to Batavia from its old site of Ambon. De Houtman had not known that before he left the Netherlands, and so he had first taken his ships to Ambon, and then needed to resupply before he could come to Batavia.
“Have you met Coen before?” Jacob d’Edel asked, while they waited to be brought in to meet the Governor-General.
De Houtman shook his head. He had seen Coen occasionally, at meetings of the Lords Seventeen in Amsterdam and Middleburg, but had never spoken with him.
“From what I hear, he’s sharp of both tongue and mind, and demands respect and strict obedience from all who serve him. Be careful what you say and do.”
De Houtman nodded absently. He was more concerned with how long it had taken Coen to meet them at all, even after they reached Batavia. Apparently the Governor-General was more concerned with rebuilding the town, which had been burned in the fighting, and negotiating with the English, who were being more troublesome than usual [2].
Governor-General Coen rose to greet them as they entered his office. He dressed as a gentleman should, in a full coat topped by a broad white ruff. He had a narrow chin beard below a wider moustache, and his dark brown hair had been cut short to better suit the Indies’ heat.
They exchanged perfunctory greetings, then Coen said, “So, Commander Houtman, you’ve found something you’re proud of.”
A blunt man, indeed, de Houtman thought. Still, Coen had the trust of the Seventeen Lords, so he was not a man to be crossed. And de Houtman suspected that Coen would also be prepared to put whatever effort was required to achieve something, if he decided that it needed to be done.
De Houtman said, “We have found a whole new world, as isolated behind its oceans and deserts as the Americas were before Columbus. The peoples who live there are as unknown to us as-”
Coen’s chuckle cut him short. “And you consider yourself the next Columbus, no doubt. I know that you styled yourself as Captain-General on your voyage here, even though you were never granted that title.”
De Houtman started to speak to defend himself, but Coen waved him to silence. The Governor-General continued, “You may have earned that rank, if this new land brings rewards worth the visiting.”
“It does,” d’Edel said.
“Indeed?” Coen steepled his fingers, and looked over them at the two men. “Tell me, or better yet show me: what does this land produce that is worth the Company sending more ships there? The reports from previous ships have not been encouraging.”
De Houtman placed two bracelets on the table, one of gold, one of silver. He had taken those from the dead native leader. Along with a larger neck-ring made of two pieces of gold twisted together, but Coen did not need to know about that. The neck-ring was now de Houtman’s personal possession.
He said, “One of the natives’ nobles wore these. The natives we brought back with us have confirmed that they mine gold and silver somewhere in their lands, although being peasants, they are too ignorant to tell us exactly where.”
Coen smiled.
Well he might, too, de Houtman thought. Not only were gold and silver valuable in themselves, they were needed to buy the spices which the Company shipped back to Europe. Using bullion of silver or gold, Company traders could buy spices which were worth more than the metals themselves.
“Gold would indeed be excellent, if we can obtain it usefully. Is there anything else?”
“The natives have spices. We have not found out how many kinds, yet; we do not know enough of their language to understand the spices which the natives know of. Still, we can be sure of at least two.”
De Houtman placed a small twig on the table. One of many samples; he had had his sailors cut down one of the sandalwood trees and bring it with them before they left d’Edels Land. “This is a kind of sandalwood. Not quite the same as that which comes from India, but still valuable, I dare say.”
He waited while Coen found a tinderbox, lit the twig, and inhaled the smoke. The smile which lit the Governor-General’s face was perhaps not as wide as the first one, but still, he clearly approved of the fragrance.
“And the other spice?”
De Houtman said, “Sadly, we could not bring any samples, but the natives know of tobacco. They recognised it when they saw our sailors smoking it, and begged to be allowed some themselves.”
He shrugged. “They did not smoke it, though. They mixed it with ashes from the ship’s ovens and chewed it. As far as our sailors can understand their language, they liked it, but said that it was inferior to what grew in their homeland.”
This time, Coen’s expression was one of calculation, at least as far as de Houtman could judge. Tobacco grew mostly in Brazil and the Caribbean islands, although sailors almost everywhere smoked it. A new source of tobacco could be promising indeed, especially if it truly was superior to that grown in the Americas. Or it might turn out to be useless; de Houtman did not know, but he wanted to find out.
“So, you have found a land of gold and spices. What of the natives themselves? A brief account only, if you please; if I want more details, I will ask for them.”
De Houtman gave a short account of the inlet in d’Edels Land, the strange plants, and their skirmish with the natives. He continued, “We brought the natives back to the ships with us. There were four, but one of them decided to jump off the ship and drown herself in the open sea rather than come with us.” Actually, he suspected that the native woman had been raped by sailors, despite his strict orders to the contrary. He could not prove that, though, and even if he had, he would not have admitted the failure here.
“A few sailors have learned something of their language, and we’ve started to teach them Dutch. Their knowledge is still limited, so we don’t know much what their country is like. They do know nothing of the Indies, though, or anywhere else in the world other than their own southern land. They have some sort of king or lord at a place they call the White City, but we need to know more of their language to find out much about that city.”
Coen said, “Would they be interested in trade? Especially for gold.”
De Houtman glanced over at d’Edel. Being a Councillor of the Indies, d’Edel was in a better position to deliver ambiguous news. “We don’t know, yet,” d’Edel said. “The natives we have are peasants, from what I can gather. They babble about traders who visit somewhere to the south, but not the whys and wherefores. To know more about the potential for trade, we’d need to find some natives of good standing.”
“We’ll have to find out, then,” Coen said. “If they are unwilling to trade, can gold be easily seized?”
De Houtman said, “Difficult to say. They know nothing whatsoever of muskets, nor of horses. The natives were horrified when they first saw horses in Ambon. But we don’t know how large their armies are. Their fighting spirit is not to be despised; they killed two of my sailors, one immediately and a second who died of his wounds.”
Coen said, “I will think more on this. Please send me a full written account of your meeting with these natives and everything which you have learned from them. Thank you, Councillor, Commander; we will speak more of this soon.”
* * *
To his exalted majesty’s servant Namai Urdera, governor of the garrison-city of Archers Nest, from his exalted majesty’s servant Lerunna Mundi, chamberlain of the palace: May the Lord turn his eyes away from you. May you know friendship and honour all the days of your life.
His exalted majesty Kepiuc Tjaanuc has heard your words and has instructed me to reply in his name. Your vigilance is noted; your dedication is to be praised. The death of your noble kinsman is to be mourned; may the Incarnator guide his spirit to a suitable rebirth. His exalted majesty’s soldiers have died in his service, and deserve to be honoured. Send to me a full list of their names and kin, that their names can be revered at the next equinox parade along the Walk of Kings, and that their kin may be rewarded from his exalted majesty’s storehouses.
His exalted majesty is pleased that all of the Middle Country recognises his supremacy, thanks to the Lady’s blessing and the Lord’s assent. Always must this supremacy be preserved, whether from treachery or from rebellion or wanderers from the treeless lands or Islander mutterers [ie priests] or wind-blown visitors from the west. You are instructed to keep watch, and respond to these strangers as you see fit if they return, provided that you always honour and uphold his exalted majesty’s supremacy.
* * *
Instructions for the yachts Hasewint, Assendelft and Wesel [3] having destination jointly to discover and explore the South-Land, 23 April 1620
Inasmuch as Our Masters [i.e. the Seventeen Lords] earnestly enjoin us to dispatch hence certain yachts for the purpose of making discovery of the South-Land; and since moreover experience has taught by great perils incurred by sundry of our ships - the urgent necessity of obtaining a full and accurate knowledge of the true bearing and conformation of the said land, that accidents may henceforth be prevented as much as possible [4]; besides this, seeing the late reports and accounts of the last ships to explore the said coast, it is highly desirable that an investigation should be made to ascertain which parts of these regions are inhabited, and whether any trade might with them be established [5].
Therefore, for the purpose before mentioned, we have resolved to fit out the yachts Hasewint, Assendelft and Wesel for undertaking the said voyage, and for ascertaining as much of the situation and nature of these regions as God Almighty shall vouchsafe to allow them.
You will accordingly set sail from here together, run out of Sunda Strait, and steer your course for the South-Land from the western extremity of Java, keeping as close to the wind as you will find at all possible, that by so doing you may avoid being driven too far westward by the south-easterly winds which generally blow in those waters. You may therefore run on as far as the 32nd or 33rd degree, if you do not fall in with land before that latitude; having got so far without seeing land, you may conclude that you have fallen off too far to westward, for sundry ships coming from the Netherlands have accidentally come upon the South-Land in this latitude; you will in this case have to turn your course to eastward, and run on in this direction until you sight land.
When you shall have come upon the South-land in the said latitude or near it, you will skirt the coast of the same as far as latitude 50 degrees, in case the land should extend so far southward; but if the land should fall off before you have reached the said latitude, and should be found to trend eastward, you will follow its eastern extension for some time, and finding no further extension to southward, you will not proceed farther east, but turn back. You will do the same if you should find the land to turn to westward. In returning you will run along the coast as far as it extends to northward, next proceeding on an eastern course or in such wise as you shall find the land to extend: in which manner you will follow the coast as close inshore and as long as you shall find practicable, and as you deem your victuals and provisions to be sufficient for the return voyage, even if in so doing you should sail round the whole land and emerge to southward.
The main object for which you are dispatched on this occasion, is, that from 45 or 50 degrees, or from the farthest point to which the land shall be found to extend southward within these latitudes, up to the northernmost extremity of the South-Land, you will have to discover and survey all capes, forelands, bights, lands, islands, rocks, reefs, sandbanks, depths, shallows, roads, winds, currents and all that appertains to the same, so as to be able to map out and duly mark everything in its true latitude, longitude, bearings and conformation. You will moreover go ashore in various places and diligently examine the coast in order to ascertain the nature of the land and the people, their towns and inhabited villages, the divisions of their kingdoms, their religion and policy, their wars, their rivers, the shape of their vessels, their fisheries, commodities and manufactures, but specially to inform yourselves what minerals, such as gold, silver, tin, iron, lead, and copper, what precious stones, pearls, vegetables, animals and fruits, these lands yield and produce. In all of these regions, you will diligently inquire whether they yield anywhere sandal-wood, nutmegs, cloves, tobacco or other spices; likewise whether they have any good harbours and fertile tracts, where it would be possible to establish settlements, which might be expected to yield satisfactory returns.
To all of which particulars and whatever else may be worth noting, you will pay diligent attention, keeping a careful record or daily journal of the same, that we may get full information of all your doings and experiences, and the Company obtain due and perfect knowledge of the situation and natural features of these regions, in return for the heavy expenses to which she is put by this expedition.
To all the places which you shall touch at, you will give appropriate names such as in each instance the case shall seem to require, choosing for the same either the names of the United Provinces or of the towns situated therein, or any other appellations that you may deem fitting and worthy. Of all which places, lands and islands, the commander and officers of these yachts, by order and pursuant to the commission of the Worshipful Governor-General Jan Pieterszoon Coen, sent out to India by their High Mightinesses the States-General of the United Netherlands, and by the Lords Managers of the General Chartered United East India Company established in the same, will, by solemn declaration signed by the ships’ councils, take formal possession, and in sign thereof, besides, erect a stone column in such places as shall be taken possession of; the said column recording in bold, legible characters the year, the month, the day of the week and the date, the persons by whom and the hour of the day when such possession has been taken on behalf of the States-General above mentioned. You will likewise endeavour to enter into friendly relations and make covenants with all such kings and nations as you shall happen to fall in with, and try to prevail upon them to place themselves under the protection of the States of the United Netherlands, of which covenants and alliances you will likewise cause proper documents to be drawn up and signed.
Any lands, islands, places, etc., which you shall take possession of, as aforesaid, you will duly mark in the chart, with their true latitude, longitude and bearings, together with the names newly conferred on the same.
According to the oath of allegiance which each of you, jointly and severally, has sworn to the Lords States General, His Princely Excellency and Lords Managers, none of you shall be allowed to secrete, or by underhand means to retain, any written documents, journals, drawings or observations touching the expedition, but every one of you shall be bound on his return here faithfully to deliver up the same without exception.
For the purpose of making a trial we have given orders for various articles to be put on board your ships, such as diverse ironmongery, cloths, coast-stuffs [from Coromandel in India] and linens; which you will show and try to dispose of to such natives as you may meet with, always diligently noting what articles are found to be most in demand, what quantities might be disposed of, and what might be obtained in exchange for them; we furthermore hand you samples of gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, pearls, sandal-wood, tobacco, nutmeg and cloves, that you may inquire whether these articles are known to the natives, and might be obtained there in any considerable quantity.
In landing anywhere you will use extreme caution, and never go ashore or into the interior unless well-armed, trusting no one, however innocent the natives may be in appearance, and with whatever kindness they may seem to receive you, being always ready to stand on the defensive, in order to prevent sudden traitorous surprises, the like of which, sad to say, have but too often been met with in similar cases, specially in the late landing of the ship Amsterdam. And if any natives should come near your ships, you will likewise take due care that they suffer no molestation from our men.
In a word, you will suffer nothing to escape your notice, but carefully scrutinise whatever you find, and give us a full and proper report on your return, by doing which you will render good service to the United Netherlands and reap special honour for yourselves.
In places where you meet with natives, you will either by dexterity or by other means endeavour to get hold of a number of full-grown persons, or better still, of boys and girls, to the end that the latter may be brought up here and be turned to useful purpose in the said quarters when occasion shall serve.
The command of the three yachts has been entrusted to Frederik de Houtman, who during the voyage will carry the flag, convene the council and take the chair in the same, in virtue of our special commission granted to the said de Houtman for the purpose.
Given in the Fortress of Batavia, this 23rd of April, A.D. 1620. [6]
* * *
[1] The Python is more or less the constellation of Scorpio, although it includes a couple of stars in its “tail” from Sagittarius.
[2] Anglo-Dutch relations in the East Indies at this point were sometimes hostile, sometimes cooperative. In the following year, diplomatic agreements between Amsterdam and London would allow closer cooperation. In the historical East Indies, this cooperation broke down in 1623 with the Dutch executing some Englishmen (and others) accused of treason. Things may change in the allohistorical East Indies, though, since both countries will soon have other things to worry about.
[3] Yachts were the preferred vessels for exploration since they had very shallow drafts and thus could explore much closer to shore than larger transport ships. Dutch yachts of this era still had substantial crews; usually over a hundred men.
[4] By 1620, Dutch ships had actually been touching parts of the western coast for several years, and had prepared charts showing parts of the coast. These charts were not always accurate, however; a regular complaint from Dutch captains in this period was that they were striking land in places other than where their charts indicated that this should be. In historical Australia, this would largely be corrected by voyages in the late 1620s and early 1630s. In allohistorical Aururia, de Houtman’s report of 1619 inspires earlier charting.
[5] While Governor-General Coen does not entirely disbelieve de Houtman’s account, he does suspect a certain amount of exaggeration. This is because other Dutch ships which had been visiting parts of Aururia during the last four or five years had universally reported that the coast was barren and the natives were savages, when they found inhabitants at all. What Coen is unaware is that the previous Dutch ships made landfall in the north-western parts of Aururia, which are quite hostile country and inhabited only by hunter-gatherers. De Houtman’s expedition was the first one to make landfall far enough south to contact the farming peoples of the south-western corner of the continent.
[6] In historical Australia, similar instructions were given in 1622 to the captains of two Dutch yachts, the Haringh and Hasewint. Their expedition did not go further than the Sunda Strait, since they were diverted to join the search for a missing ship (the Rotterdam).
* * *
Thoughts?
Edit: P.S. If anyone is feeling cartographically inclined, I need a map designed which shows the early voyages of exploration of Aururia (not that they call it that yet). If you're interested, let me know on here or by PM.
“My intention is to demonstrate briefly and clearly that the Dutch – that is to say, the subjects of the United Netherlands – have the right to sail to the East Indies, as they are doing now, and to engage in trade with the people there. I shall base my argument on the following most specific and unimpeachable axiom of the Law of Nations, called a primary rule or first principle, the spirit which of which is self-evident and immutable, to wit: Every nation is free to travel to every other nation, and trade with it.”
- Hugo Grotius, Mare liberum, 1609
* * *
To his exalted majesty’s servant Namai Urdera, governor of the garrison-city of Archers Nest, from Birring Gabi, Chief Watcher of the West and Seventh Councillor [of Star Hill]: May the fortunate stars watch over you and the wanderers [planets] bring you joy and prosperity. May you know your path as it stretches out before you in this life, your lives past, and your lives yet to come.
Take heed and beware: on the night these raw-skinned strangers arrived, four stars were ripped from the Python [1] and descended to the earth. Know this to be true: four greater kuru have crossed over into the mortal realm. Consider and understand: this augurs a time of great consternation, of potent forces at work.
Answers may be found, if you contemplate the Python. Prey it finds, dangers it dispatches, not by poison or by swift strike, but by the slow embrace of the crushing death. If war the raw-skins offer, resolution will not be found in one swift strike. Measured, persistent, and unyielding action must be your response. If peace the raw-skins offer, likewise let the wisdom of the Python guide your steps, while considering always that even the pacifistic may cause harm through mischance or greed.
* * *
December 1619
Batavia Fort, Java
Rain poured onto the roof, a steady drumbeat of water which had started a month before and which would continue for several more months – the annual rhythm of the monsoons. This building, the new residence of the Governor-General of the East Indies, had been thrown up hastily, from the look of it. As Commander Frederik de Houtman walked in, with Councillor Jacob d’Edsel at his side, he could only hope that the rapid construction had been enough to withstand the endless rains.
Of course, if he had had his way, he would have met with Governor-General Jan Coen months earlier, before the monsoon started. Alas, fortune had conspired against him. Earlier this year, Coen had moved the headquarters of the Company to Batavia from its old site of Ambon. De Houtman had not known that before he left the Netherlands, and so he had first taken his ships to Ambon, and then needed to resupply before he could come to Batavia.
“Have you met Coen before?” Jacob d’Edel asked, while they waited to be brought in to meet the Governor-General.
De Houtman shook his head. He had seen Coen occasionally, at meetings of the Lords Seventeen in Amsterdam and Middleburg, but had never spoken with him.
“From what I hear, he’s sharp of both tongue and mind, and demands respect and strict obedience from all who serve him. Be careful what you say and do.”
De Houtman nodded absently. He was more concerned with how long it had taken Coen to meet them at all, even after they reached Batavia. Apparently the Governor-General was more concerned with rebuilding the town, which had been burned in the fighting, and negotiating with the English, who were being more troublesome than usual [2].
Governor-General Coen rose to greet them as they entered his office. He dressed as a gentleman should, in a full coat topped by a broad white ruff. He had a narrow chin beard below a wider moustache, and his dark brown hair had been cut short to better suit the Indies’ heat.
They exchanged perfunctory greetings, then Coen said, “So, Commander Houtman, you’ve found something you’re proud of.”
A blunt man, indeed, de Houtman thought. Still, Coen had the trust of the Seventeen Lords, so he was not a man to be crossed. And de Houtman suspected that Coen would also be prepared to put whatever effort was required to achieve something, if he decided that it needed to be done.
De Houtman said, “We have found a whole new world, as isolated behind its oceans and deserts as the Americas were before Columbus. The peoples who live there are as unknown to us as-”
Coen’s chuckle cut him short. “And you consider yourself the next Columbus, no doubt. I know that you styled yourself as Captain-General on your voyage here, even though you were never granted that title.”
De Houtman started to speak to defend himself, but Coen waved him to silence. The Governor-General continued, “You may have earned that rank, if this new land brings rewards worth the visiting.”
“It does,” d’Edel said.
“Indeed?” Coen steepled his fingers, and looked over them at the two men. “Tell me, or better yet show me: what does this land produce that is worth the Company sending more ships there? The reports from previous ships have not been encouraging.”
De Houtman placed two bracelets on the table, one of gold, one of silver. He had taken those from the dead native leader. Along with a larger neck-ring made of two pieces of gold twisted together, but Coen did not need to know about that. The neck-ring was now de Houtman’s personal possession.
He said, “One of the natives’ nobles wore these. The natives we brought back with us have confirmed that they mine gold and silver somewhere in their lands, although being peasants, they are too ignorant to tell us exactly where.”
Coen smiled.
Well he might, too, de Houtman thought. Not only were gold and silver valuable in themselves, they were needed to buy the spices which the Company shipped back to Europe. Using bullion of silver or gold, Company traders could buy spices which were worth more than the metals themselves.
“Gold would indeed be excellent, if we can obtain it usefully. Is there anything else?”
“The natives have spices. We have not found out how many kinds, yet; we do not know enough of their language to understand the spices which the natives know of. Still, we can be sure of at least two.”
De Houtman placed a small twig on the table. One of many samples; he had had his sailors cut down one of the sandalwood trees and bring it with them before they left d’Edels Land. “This is a kind of sandalwood. Not quite the same as that which comes from India, but still valuable, I dare say.”
He waited while Coen found a tinderbox, lit the twig, and inhaled the smoke. The smile which lit the Governor-General’s face was perhaps not as wide as the first one, but still, he clearly approved of the fragrance.
“And the other spice?”
De Houtman said, “Sadly, we could not bring any samples, but the natives know of tobacco. They recognised it when they saw our sailors smoking it, and begged to be allowed some themselves.”
He shrugged. “They did not smoke it, though. They mixed it with ashes from the ship’s ovens and chewed it. As far as our sailors can understand their language, they liked it, but said that it was inferior to what grew in their homeland.”
This time, Coen’s expression was one of calculation, at least as far as de Houtman could judge. Tobacco grew mostly in Brazil and the Caribbean islands, although sailors almost everywhere smoked it. A new source of tobacco could be promising indeed, especially if it truly was superior to that grown in the Americas. Or it might turn out to be useless; de Houtman did not know, but he wanted to find out.
“So, you have found a land of gold and spices. What of the natives themselves? A brief account only, if you please; if I want more details, I will ask for them.”
De Houtman gave a short account of the inlet in d’Edels Land, the strange plants, and their skirmish with the natives. He continued, “We brought the natives back to the ships with us. There were four, but one of them decided to jump off the ship and drown herself in the open sea rather than come with us.” Actually, he suspected that the native woman had been raped by sailors, despite his strict orders to the contrary. He could not prove that, though, and even if he had, he would not have admitted the failure here.
“A few sailors have learned something of their language, and we’ve started to teach them Dutch. Their knowledge is still limited, so we don’t know much what their country is like. They do know nothing of the Indies, though, or anywhere else in the world other than their own southern land. They have some sort of king or lord at a place they call the White City, but we need to know more of their language to find out much about that city.”
Coen said, “Would they be interested in trade? Especially for gold.”
De Houtman glanced over at d’Edel. Being a Councillor of the Indies, d’Edel was in a better position to deliver ambiguous news. “We don’t know, yet,” d’Edel said. “The natives we have are peasants, from what I can gather. They babble about traders who visit somewhere to the south, but not the whys and wherefores. To know more about the potential for trade, we’d need to find some natives of good standing.”
“We’ll have to find out, then,” Coen said. “If they are unwilling to trade, can gold be easily seized?”
De Houtman said, “Difficult to say. They know nothing whatsoever of muskets, nor of horses. The natives were horrified when they first saw horses in Ambon. But we don’t know how large their armies are. Their fighting spirit is not to be despised; they killed two of my sailors, one immediately and a second who died of his wounds.”
Coen said, “I will think more on this. Please send me a full written account of your meeting with these natives and everything which you have learned from them. Thank you, Councillor, Commander; we will speak more of this soon.”
* * *
To his exalted majesty’s servant Namai Urdera, governor of the garrison-city of Archers Nest, from his exalted majesty’s servant Lerunna Mundi, chamberlain of the palace: May the Lord turn his eyes away from you. May you know friendship and honour all the days of your life.
His exalted majesty Kepiuc Tjaanuc has heard your words and has instructed me to reply in his name. Your vigilance is noted; your dedication is to be praised. The death of your noble kinsman is to be mourned; may the Incarnator guide his spirit to a suitable rebirth. His exalted majesty’s soldiers have died in his service, and deserve to be honoured. Send to me a full list of their names and kin, that their names can be revered at the next equinox parade along the Walk of Kings, and that their kin may be rewarded from his exalted majesty’s storehouses.
His exalted majesty is pleased that all of the Middle Country recognises his supremacy, thanks to the Lady’s blessing and the Lord’s assent. Always must this supremacy be preserved, whether from treachery or from rebellion or wanderers from the treeless lands or Islander mutterers [ie priests] or wind-blown visitors from the west. You are instructed to keep watch, and respond to these strangers as you see fit if they return, provided that you always honour and uphold his exalted majesty’s supremacy.
* * *
Instructions for the yachts Hasewint, Assendelft and Wesel [3] having destination jointly to discover and explore the South-Land, 23 April 1620
Inasmuch as Our Masters [i.e. the Seventeen Lords] earnestly enjoin us to dispatch hence certain yachts for the purpose of making discovery of the South-Land; and since moreover experience has taught by great perils incurred by sundry of our ships - the urgent necessity of obtaining a full and accurate knowledge of the true bearing and conformation of the said land, that accidents may henceforth be prevented as much as possible [4]; besides this, seeing the late reports and accounts of the last ships to explore the said coast, it is highly desirable that an investigation should be made to ascertain which parts of these regions are inhabited, and whether any trade might with them be established [5].
Therefore, for the purpose before mentioned, we have resolved to fit out the yachts Hasewint, Assendelft and Wesel for undertaking the said voyage, and for ascertaining as much of the situation and nature of these regions as God Almighty shall vouchsafe to allow them.
You will accordingly set sail from here together, run out of Sunda Strait, and steer your course for the South-Land from the western extremity of Java, keeping as close to the wind as you will find at all possible, that by so doing you may avoid being driven too far westward by the south-easterly winds which generally blow in those waters. You may therefore run on as far as the 32nd or 33rd degree, if you do not fall in with land before that latitude; having got so far without seeing land, you may conclude that you have fallen off too far to westward, for sundry ships coming from the Netherlands have accidentally come upon the South-Land in this latitude; you will in this case have to turn your course to eastward, and run on in this direction until you sight land.
When you shall have come upon the South-land in the said latitude or near it, you will skirt the coast of the same as far as latitude 50 degrees, in case the land should extend so far southward; but if the land should fall off before you have reached the said latitude, and should be found to trend eastward, you will follow its eastern extension for some time, and finding no further extension to southward, you will not proceed farther east, but turn back. You will do the same if you should find the land to turn to westward. In returning you will run along the coast as far as it extends to northward, next proceeding on an eastern course or in such wise as you shall find the land to extend: in which manner you will follow the coast as close inshore and as long as you shall find practicable, and as you deem your victuals and provisions to be sufficient for the return voyage, even if in so doing you should sail round the whole land and emerge to southward.
The main object for which you are dispatched on this occasion, is, that from 45 or 50 degrees, or from the farthest point to which the land shall be found to extend southward within these latitudes, up to the northernmost extremity of the South-Land, you will have to discover and survey all capes, forelands, bights, lands, islands, rocks, reefs, sandbanks, depths, shallows, roads, winds, currents and all that appertains to the same, so as to be able to map out and duly mark everything in its true latitude, longitude, bearings and conformation. You will moreover go ashore in various places and diligently examine the coast in order to ascertain the nature of the land and the people, their towns and inhabited villages, the divisions of their kingdoms, their religion and policy, their wars, their rivers, the shape of their vessels, their fisheries, commodities and manufactures, but specially to inform yourselves what minerals, such as gold, silver, tin, iron, lead, and copper, what precious stones, pearls, vegetables, animals and fruits, these lands yield and produce. In all of these regions, you will diligently inquire whether they yield anywhere sandal-wood, nutmegs, cloves, tobacco or other spices; likewise whether they have any good harbours and fertile tracts, where it would be possible to establish settlements, which might be expected to yield satisfactory returns.
To all of which particulars and whatever else may be worth noting, you will pay diligent attention, keeping a careful record or daily journal of the same, that we may get full information of all your doings and experiences, and the Company obtain due and perfect knowledge of the situation and natural features of these regions, in return for the heavy expenses to which she is put by this expedition.
To all the places which you shall touch at, you will give appropriate names such as in each instance the case shall seem to require, choosing for the same either the names of the United Provinces or of the towns situated therein, or any other appellations that you may deem fitting and worthy. Of all which places, lands and islands, the commander and officers of these yachts, by order and pursuant to the commission of the Worshipful Governor-General Jan Pieterszoon Coen, sent out to India by their High Mightinesses the States-General of the United Netherlands, and by the Lords Managers of the General Chartered United East India Company established in the same, will, by solemn declaration signed by the ships’ councils, take formal possession, and in sign thereof, besides, erect a stone column in such places as shall be taken possession of; the said column recording in bold, legible characters the year, the month, the day of the week and the date, the persons by whom and the hour of the day when such possession has been taken on behalf of the States-General above mentioned. You will likewise endeavour to enter into friendly relations and make covenants with all such kings and nations as you shall happen to fall in with, and try to prevail upon them to place themselves under the protection of the States of the United Netherlands, of which covenants and alliances you will likewise cause proper documents to be drawn up and signed.
Any lands, islands, places, etc., which you shall take possession of, as aforesaid, you will duly mark in the chart, with their true latitude, longitude and bearings, together with the names newly conferred on the same.
According to the oath of allegiance which each of you, jointly and severally, has sworn to the Lords States General, His Princely Excellency and Lords Managers, none of you shall be allowed to secrete, or by underhand means to retain, any written documents, journals, drawings or observations touching the expedition, but every one of you shall be bound on his return here faithfully to deliver up the same without exception.
For the purpose of making a trial we have given orders for various articles to be put on board your ships, such as diverse ironmongery, cloths, coast-stuffs [from Coromandel in India] and linens; which you will show and try to dispose of to such natives as you may meet with, always diligently noting what articles are found to be most in demand, what quantities might be disposed of, and what might be obtained in exchange for them; we furthermore hand you samples of gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, pearls, sandal-wood, tobacco, nutmeg and cloves, that you may inquire whether these articles are known to the natives, and might be obtained there in any considerable quantity.
In landing anywhere you will use extreme caution, and never go ashore or into the interior unless well-armed, trusting no one, however innocent the natives may be in appearance, and with whatever kindness they may seem to receive you, being always ready to stand on the defensive, in order to prevent sudden traitorous surprises, the like of which, sad to say, have but too often been met with in similar cases, specially in the late landing of the ship Amsterdam. And if any natives should come near your ships, you will likewise take due care that they suffer no molestation from our men.
In a word, you will suffer nothing to escape your notice, but carefully scrutinise whatever you find, and give us a full and proper report on your return, by doing which you will render good service to the United Netherlands and reap special honour for yourselves.
In places where you meet with natives, you will either by dexterity or by other means endeavour to get hold of a number of full-grown persons, or better still, of boys and girls, to the end that the latter may be brought up here and be turned to useful purpose in the said quarters when occasion shall serve.
The command of the three yachts has been entrusted to Frederik de Houtman, who during the voyage will carry the flag, convene the council and take the chair in the same, in virtue of our special commission granted to the said de Houtman for the purpose.
Given in the Fortress of Batavia, this 23rd of April, A.D. 1620. [6]
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[1] The Python is more or less the constellation of Scorpio, although it includes a couple of stars in its “tail” from Sagittarius.
[2] Anglo-Dutch relations in the East Indies at this point were sometimes hostile, sometimes cooperative. In the following year, diplomatic agreements between Amsterdam and London would allow closer cooperation. In the historical East Indies, this cooperation broke down in 1623 with the Dutch executing some Englishmen (and others) accused of treason. Things may change in the allohistorical East Indies, though, since both countries will soon have other things to worry about.
[3] Yachts were the preferred vessels for exploration since they had very shallow drafts and thus could explore much closer to shore than larger transport ships. Dutch yachts of this era still had substantial crews; usually over a hundred men.
[4] By 1620, Dutch ships had actually been touching parts of the western coast for several years, and had prepared charts showing parts of the coast. These charts were not always accurate, however; a regular complaint from Dutch captains in this period was that they were striking land in places other than where their charts indicated that this should be. In historical Australia, this would largely be corrected by voyages in the late 1620s and early 1630s. In allohistorical Aururia, de Houtman’s report of 1619 inspires earlier charting.
[5] While Governor-General Coen does not entirely disbelieve de Houtman’s account, he does suspect a certain amount of exaggeration. This is because other Dutch ships which had been visiting parts of Aururia during the last four or five years had universally reported that the coast was barren and the natives were savages, when they found inhabitants at all. What Coen is unaware is that the previous Dutch ships made landfall in the north-western parts of Aururia, which are quite hostile country and inhabited only by hunter-gatherers. De Houtman’s expedition was the first one to make landfall far enough south to contact the farming peoples of the south-western corner of the continent.
[6] In historical Australia, similar instructions were given in 1622 to the captains of two Dutch yachts, the Haringh and Hasewint. Their expedition did not go further than the Sunda Strait, since they were diverted to join the search for a missing ship (the Rotterdam).
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Thoughts?
Edit: P.S. If anyone is feeling cartographically inclined, I need a map designed which shows the early voyages of exploration of Aururia (not that they call it that yet). If you're interested, let me know on here or by PM.
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. So when should we start seeing Disease takes it toll on the Native and Dutch groups probably not well into the 1630's you would wager? Other than that I really don't have that much to mention, I really need to go back and read some of the updates Ive missed in the last couple of months... Also how long do you plan on taking this timeline up to? As always J, Keep it comming!!!