Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/257

 Ch-AP. IX.] THE DUTCH EAST INDIA TRADE. 223

burg merchants, also in 1 598, Houtmann, who had been intrusted with the com- ad. 1602. in and, was again unfortunate, and lost his life by an act of gross treachery on the part of the King of Acheen, in the island of Sumatra.

The Dutch East India trade miidit now be considered as fairly established. rr.«icw ot

° . "^, the DuKh

It had originated in private enterprise, and had the times been peaceful, might KastinUia liave been successfully carried on by the same means ; but the Spaniards and Por- tuguese having left no doubt of their determination to cling to their monopoly at all hazards, it became necessary for the Dutch to provide themselves with the means of repelling force by force. At first the States-general contented themselves with granting the necessary authority for this purpose ; but it soon appeared that separate companies, pursuing different, and it might be also adverse interests, could not well co-operate in repelling a common foe. In these circumstances, two coiu^es lay open to the government. It might adhere to the system generally followed in Europe, and, while permitting individuals or jissociations full freeilom of trade in every region of the East, provide for their protection against foreign enemies by stationing ships of war in every quarter wiiere danger was apprehended ; or it might, by uniting all private associations into one great and exclusive company, enable it to acquire sufficient strength not only to maintain its ground against all who might assail it, but even to become in its turn the aggressor and make new conquests. The latter was the plan adopted; and on the 20th of March, 1602, a general charter was granted, liret charter

oftheUiitih

incorporating the chfferent companies into one gi'eat association, and conferring p:a8t India upon it the exclusive privilege of trade to the East. The plan, whatever be its merits or demerits, was not original, for the model had been furnished fifteen months before in a charter granted with a similar object by the crown of Eng- land. To this charter, and the preparatory measvu-es taken to procure it, we must now turn.

If those who took the lead in the expeditions of Fenton and Lanca.ster had been deteired by their ftiilure from persevering in the attempt to estaljlish a direct trade with India, they must have been ashamed of their ])usillanimity when they became accpiainted with the success of the Dutch ; and at all events nuist have felt the necessity of immediately bestirring themselves if they were not prepared to allow a rival nation to forestall them in what was then imiver- sally, though not very accurately, regarded as the most lucrative market in the world. The proceedings thus originated must be reserved for the next chapter