Page:Early voyages to Terra Australis.djvu/340

 186 THE houtman's abrolhos.

writing of the skipper, in which he complains in unmistake- able terms of the behaviour and dishonesty of the crew ; so that we cannot but suppose that the money chests have been broken open, in order that so splendid a booty might be divided. Therefore on the motion of the Governor-Gene- ral, it was resolved to send out at once to the assistance of the suffering vessel and crew, who were obliged, in default of fresh water, to put up with salt water for some time. Accordingly the brigantine De Hoop, the sloop De Olyftack, and the patchialangs De Snip and the before-named Veei'- man, being made ready by order of his excellency, the advocat-fiscal of India, Mr, Jacob Graafland, with two com- missioners from the Council of Justice, assisted by the seci'e- tary aiad usher, together with one sergeant, two corporals, and twelve private soldiers, was dispatched, in order that the ready money might be secured without any delay, as much of it, that is, as might still be found. Further, a thorough search was to be made after the remainder, both among the crew and in all the corners and nooks of the sloop, which has been put together by them.

This said sloop no other vessels shall be allowed to ap- proach, with the sole exception of that on board of which the commissioners are; so that all possibility may be removed of any clandestine transfer of the stolen booty to another crew, and of the noble company's being thus injured by a complot of a gang of expert thieves. The guilty ones shall be seized and subjected to an exemplary punishment, as a warning to all other evil doers in similar lamentable and

fatal occurrences.

J. J. Hendricks, Seer.

APPENDIX IV.

The Trials. About two hundred years have elapsed since the instructions here mentioned were drawn up, and still