members of the Council, called Edele Heeren, for whoever
| i f— d meets them is obliged to flop his coach, and, though not to
get out, to Hand up in it, and make his reverence: thefe
Edele Heeren are preceded by one black man with a flick,
nor muft any perfon prefume to pafs their carriage any more
than that of the Governor. Thefe ceremonies are generally
complied with by the Captains o f Indiamen, and other
trading flaps 5 but having the honour to bear his Majefty’s
commiflion, I did not think myfelf at liberty to pay to a
Dutch Governor, any homage which is not paid to my own
Sovereign : it is, however, conftantly required of the King’s
officers; and two or three days after I came hither, the landlord
o f the hotel where I lodged told me, he had been ordered
by the fhebander to let me know that my carriage, as weli
as others, muft flop, i f I Ihould meet the Governor or any
o f the Council; but I defired him to acquaint the fhebander
that I could not content to perform any fuch ceremony {>
and upon his intimating fomewhat about the black men
with flicks, I told him that i f any infult fhould be offered
me, I knew how to defend myfelf, and would take care to be
upon my guard ; at the fame time pointing to my piftols,
which then happened to lie upon the,table: upon this he
went away, and about three hours afterwards.he returned
and told me he had orders from the Governor to acquaint me
that I might do as I pleafed. The hotel at which I refided is
licenfed by the Governor and Council, and all ftrangers are
obliged to take up their abode there, except officers in his
Majefty’s fervice, who are allowed private lodgings, which
however, I did not chufe.
At this place I continued between three and four months,
and during all that time I had the honour to fee the Governor
but twice: the -firft time was at my arrival, when I waited
upon him at one of his houfes, a little way in the country;
the
the next was in town, as he was walking before his houfe- 1768.
there, when I addrefled him upon a particular occafion. . Aufuft' ,
Soon after the news o f the Prince of Orange’s marriage-
arrived here, he gave a public entertainment, to which r
had the honour of being invited; but having heard that:
Commodore Tinker, upon a like occafion, finding that he
was to be placed below the gentlemen of the Dutch Council,
had abruptly left the room, and was followed by all the-
Captains of his fquadron ; and being willing to avoid the-
difagreeable dilemma o f either fitting, below the Council, 01-
following the. Commodore’s example, I applied to the Governor
to know the ftation that would be allotted me, before I
accepted his invitation, and finding that I could not be, permitted
to take place of the Council, I declined it. . On both:
thefe occafions I fpoke to his Excellency by an Engliih merchant,
who a cited as an interpreter. The firft time he had:
not the civility to offer me the leaft refrelhment, nor did he-
the laft time fo much as afkme to go into the houfe.
The defedts of the fliip were at length repaired, much to.
my fatisfaftion, and I thought flie might then fafely proceed
to Europe, though the Dutch carpenters were o f a different
opinion. The proper feafon-for failing was not yet arrived;,
and my worthy friend, Admiral Homing; reprefented that-
i f I went to fe.a before .the proper time; I Ihould meet with
fuch weather off the Cape of Good Hope as would make me-
repent it; but: being very ill'myfelfi and the people beings
fickly,. f thought it better to run the rifle of a few hard gales-
off the Cape-, than remain longer in this unhealthy place-
efpecially as the weft monfoon was fetting in, during which,
the mortality here is. y e t greater than at-other times.
On Wednefday the. 15th of, September, therefore, we fet
fail from OnruftK where.the ffup had.been refitted,.without,
returning,.