D u t c h .
E n g l i s h .
T h e Dutch followed them in 1595. An account o f that1
voyage may be feen in L'Hißoire de la Navigation de L'Inde orientale,
printed at Amßerdam in 1609. In future I ihall, in my
references to thofe voyages, cite them by the name o f Nicolas's
collection, who was the publiiher. At p. 18 is given an account
o f their firft defcent, and a plate o f the dreifes o f the inhabitants.
The Dutch formed feveral factories in Sumatra, which fiourifh
to this, day ; the principal is at Padang, in the neighborhood o f
the gold country. Their next is at Palanbang, for the fake of
the tin which is dug by the natives, and fufed on the ifle o f
Banca, on the eait fide o f Sumatra, oppofite to the difeharge o f
the river o f Palambang. The city ftands fome miles from the
mouth : It once belonged to the king o f Bantam in Java, and is
even to this day peopled by Javans; but fince the Dutch have
rendered that monarchy in a manner dependant pn themfelves,
they moft probably may be ftyled its mailers, Befides making
it the magazine o f the tin drawn from Banca, they collect yaft
quantities o f pepper from the neighboring parts. In 1662 this
city was attacked by a Dutch fleet fent from Batavia to revenge
fome moil barbarous murders committed on their .countrymen,
it was ftrongly fortified with trunks o f trees clofely put together,
and mounted with numbers .of cannon. Notwithftanding this,
the Dutch fucceded, and burnt the city to the ground,
T he Engliß are at prefent in pofleiRon of thg great trade o f
Sumatra. The reputation o f its vail wealth gave rife to the firit
voyage ever made by our countrymen to the Baß Indies. Elizabeth,
in the 43d year o f her reign, iffued her patent which cot).
f . ' - ’ ftituteil
flituted originally the Eafi India company. It is given at length
by Purchas *.
In confequence o f this, that able failor James Lancaßer,
afterwards Sir James, was fent there, and failed from Torbay on
April 2d, 1601. He commanded the Dragon of fix hundred
tons, and had with him the HeOor of three hundred, the Afcen-
ßon o f two hundred and fixty, and one more. Her Highnefs
furniihed her general, as he was called, with letters to divers of
the eaftern potentates, among others, one to the king of Acheen,
the chief and firft obje<ft of the voyage. ' He did not arrive at Sumatra
till May 2d, 1602. The fame of Elizabeth's viffories over
the Spaniards had reached the king’s ears, and in confequence
Lancaßer was moft favorably received; he prefented gifts of great
value on the part of his miftrefs, and received others in return.
The Portuguefe did all in their power to prevent a good under-
ftanding between the Engliß and the king, but to no purpofe.
Lancaßer even made a ihort cruife, and took a rich Ihip from
Saint Thome on the Coromandel coaft, belonging to the Portuguefe,
which was- deemed a lawful prize, that kingdom being
then in poffeffion o f our great enemy Philip II. Our general got
in part of his lading of pepper in this ifland; the reft in Malacca,
and after obtaining many valuable privileges from the
King of Acheen, returned with a moft friendly letter from the
Sumatran prince. He met with a dreadful ftorm off Mada-
gafcar \ in the midft of the co.nfufion, he thought o f the fervices
he might render to his country by this remarkable notice: “ The
a paffage to the Baß Indies lies in 62 degrees 30 minutes, by the
* Pilgrimage, vol. i. p. 1 39*
V ol. IV. D “ north‘