Page:Kaempfer History of Japan 1727 vol 1 (IA historyofjapangi01kaem).pdf/73

Chap. I. Imperial Orders on this head; but the Severity of the Court being omewhat allay’d, partly by length of time, partly by the interceion of Mr. Buteman, then Reident of the Dutch Eat-India Company, they at lat, in conideration of their good Intention, obtain’d leave to return to Macao, and Proviions were offer’d them coniting chiefly in Rice and Water. The unhappy Japanee, after a rude Imprionment of two years, were et at Liberty, and under a trict Guard ent to their native Towns. One of our Reidents, upon his return from Jedo to Nangaaki, met ome upon the road. Thus this Voyage ended without the leat advantage to the City of Macao. But to proceed on our own Voyage.

We weigh’d anchor after midnight, and on the Ninth in the Morning made the Thouand Ilands, as they are here call’d. We were in Sight of the high Land Lampon, in Sumatra oppoite to Bantam. We aw likewie the Wetern Mountains both of Java and Sumatra, and particularly one in Sumatra, remarkable for its height, which to our great Grief we had had o long in Sight, ome Months before in our Voyage from Atijn to Batavia. The Wind was variable, motly S. We were almot becalm’d in the afternoon, and could not make the Iland Norderwachten, that is Northern Guard, before Evening. After Sunet a freh favourable Gale prung up.

It was cloudy all the Tenth. The Wind E.S.E. We teer’d North out of ight of Land or Ilands, excepting ome few of the highet Mountains in Sumatra, the tops of which we perceiv’d inditinctly through the Clouds. We cat Anchor late at Night in ix Fathoms, to avoid running againt Land in the Night, which was een from the great Mat the evening before, and uppos’d to be the Iland Lucipara, lying at the mouth of the Strait of Banca.

On the Eleventh of May we weigh’d anchor early in the morning, but a Calm enuing forc’d us to drop it again, and to lie by for ome hours. About two hours after Sun riing, a brisk Gale prung up at S. and we teer’d North between Land, which we aw lat evening, and found to be the Iland Lucipara, and the Coats of Sumatra towards the Straits of Banca.

Before I proceed further, I cannot forbear oberving in general that the Voyage from Batavia to Siam is attended with no mall difficulties and dangers, becaue of the many mall low Ilands, Rocks, Shoals and Sands. A careful and prudent Pilot mut always keep at a due ditance from Land, that is, neither too near it, nor too far off, that in cae of trong tormy Winds and Turnado's, which frequently and unawares arie in this Paage, he may have an opportunity of coming to an anchor, and by this means preerve the Ship from running a-ground, or from being cat away too far out of her Coure. For this Reaon Ships commonly lie at anchor over night, the rather if Land was een the day before, or ome Signs appear’d of its be

Voyage from Batavia to Siam dangerous