Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/251

 EUROPEAN NATIONS. 235 they cannot obtain in the way of traffic." * Conduct of the nature here related brought the European character into the greatest discredit with all the natives of the Archipelago, and the piratical cha- racter which we have attempted to fix upon them, might be most truly retaliated upon us. The pet- ty establishments supported by the Dutch to main- tain their compulsory regulations, lived, in the midst of a hostile population, in a state of the ut- most terror, alarm, and degradation, never count- ing themselves for a moment secure but in their forts or ships, f • Vol. 11. p. 164. f Dampier gives a very ludicrous picture of the condition of the Dutch garrison of Pulo Dmding, lying off the coast of the Malay state of Perah, and one of the establishments in question. He is describing an entertainment given to his commander and lady, by the Dutch governor. " But to return to the governor, he, to retaliate the captain's and Mr Kichards's kindness, sent a boat a- fishing, to get some better entertainment for his guests than the fort yielded at present. About four or five o'clock the boat returned with a good dish of fish. These were immediately dressed for supper, and the boat was sent out again to get more for Mr llichards and his lady to carry aboard with them. In the mean time the food was brought into the dining-room, and placed on the table. The dishes and plates were of silver, and there was a silver punch-bowl full of liquor. The go- vernor, his guests, and some of his officers, were seated, but just as they began to fall to, one of the soldiers cried out.