Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/407

 SEQUEL OF JAVANESE HISTORY. S63 eomiYiander. This was the moment chosen for perpetrating the act of treachery which had been meditated. While in the act of saluting the com- mander, the assassins drew their daggers and com- menced the attack. A crowd of Javanese now at- tempted to rush in at the gate, but the European centinels had the presence of mind to close it. The Dutch in their turn became the assailants, and the Javanese were in a few minutes put to death with as little mercy as they deserved. The Chinese force now joining the Javanese, the Dutch fort was besieged, and the garrison, 450 in number, had the folly to surrender themselves prisoners of war, on the faithless assurances of safety made to them by the Javanese prince. In the first paroxysm of caprice, he directed the Chris- tians to be circumcised, and instructed in the Ma- homedan religion ; or, as the Javanese writer care- lessly expresses, " directed them to change their prophet." Soon repenting of this degree of lenity, he ordered the European officers to be executed, Tliese circumstances are related on the authority of native manuscripts. When the Javanese agreed to forsake the Chinese, and renew their alliance with the Dutch, on the sug- gestion of the latter, they agreed suddenly to fall up- on their old friends occupying the same camp, and massacre the whole of them. The matter was conr
 * by beating them to death with bludgeons 1'*