The 1st July Two Of Our Company Happened To Quarrel, And Had Nearly Gone
Out To The Field To Fight,
Which had greatly endangered us all, as it is
the law here, that whoever draws a weapon in anger, although
No harm be
done, is presently cut in pieces; and if they do even but small hurt,
not only they are so executed themselves, but all their relations are
put to death. The 2d, I went ashore to keep house at Firando, my
household consisting of twenty-six persons. At our first coming, we
found that the Dutch sold broad-cloths of L15 or 16 a-cloth, for forty
dollars, or L8 sterling the mat, which is a measure of two yards
and a quarter. Being desirous to keep up the price of our cloth, and hearing
that the Dutch had a great quantity, I had a conference with Brower, the
chief of their factory, proposing that we should mutually fix prices
upon such cloths as we both had, and neither of us, in any respect, sell
below the prices agreed upon; for performance of which, I offered to
enter into mutual bonds. In the morning, he seemed to approve of this
proposal, but ere night he sent me word that he disliked it, alleging
that he had no authority from his masters to make any such agreement.
Next morning he shipped away a great store of cloth to different
islands, rating them at low prices, as at twenty, eighteen, and sixteen
dollars the mat, that he might the more speedily sell off his own, and
glut the market before ours came forwards.
Pepper, ungarbled, which cost 1 3/4 dollars at Bantam the sack, was
worth at our coming ten tayes the pecul, which is 100
cattea of Japan, or 130 pounds English. A taye is worth
five shillings sterling. A rial of eight, or Spanish dollar, is worth
there in ordinary payment only seven mas, or three shillings and
sixpence sterling, one mas being equal to a single rial. The pecul
of tin was worth thirty tayes; the pecul of elephants teeth
eighty tayes: Cast iron six tayes the pecul: Gunpowder twenty-three
tayes the pecul: Socotrine aloes the cattee, six tayes: Fowling-pieces
twenty tayes each: Calicos and such little commodities, of Guzerat or
Coromandel, were at various prices, according to their qualities.
On the 7th of July the king of the Gotto islands, which are not far from
Firando to the S.W. came upon a visit to king Foyne, saying he had
heard of an excellent English ship being arrived in his dominions, which
he greatly desired to go aboard of. King Foyne requested of me that this
might be allowed, the king of Gotto being an especial friend of his;
wherefore he was banqueted on board, and several cannon were fired at
his departure, which he was much pleased with, and told me he would be
glad to see some of our nation at his islands, where they should meet a
hearty welcome.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 15 of 474
Words from 7448 to 7956
of 247546
