Page:History of India Vol 6.djvu/271

 ANGLO -DUTCH RIVALRY FOR EASTERN TRADE 213 famous Van Neck, whose return with more treaties and a rich freight intoxicated the nation. Houtman himself went forth on a second expedition, in which he and many others were treacherously slain. The survivors returned in 1600. Between 1595 and 1601 no fewer than fifteen Dutch expeditions started for India by the Cape A. BURMESE STREET BAND. of Good Hope or the Straits of Magellan. By that time associations for Eastern trade had been formed through- out the United Provinces, and in 1602 they were amal- gamated by the States-General into the Dutch East India Company. England pressed hard after Holland, although with less certain steps. It seemed, indeed, that Captain Lan- caster's heroic voyage of 1591 - 1594 had given the lead