ide arriued the other fiue shippes of our company before
mentioned in very good manner, and well conditioned. [Sidenote: The whole
fleet meet before Bantam.] And so our whole fleete of eight ships ioyfully
met together, and had none or very fewe sicke persons among them, hauing
lost by death in the whole fleete but 35. men in all, of which number some
perished through their own negligence. Vpon this happy meeting we displaied
our flags, streamers and ensignes after the brauest manner, honouring and
greeting one another with volleis of shot, making good cheere, and (which
was no small matter) growing more deeply in fauour with the townesmen of
Bantam. Vnto vs were daily brought aboord in Prauwes or Indian boats great
quantity of hens, egs, Cocos, bonanos, sugar-canes, cakes, made of rice,
and a certaine kinde of good drinke which is there made by the men of
China. Thus the people daily bartered with vs for pewter and other wares,
giuing so much victuals for a pewter spoone, as might well suffice one man
for an whole weeke. Wee trucked likewise for diuers other things, as for
porcellan dishes and such like. [Sidenote: The price of pepper inhanced.]
Howbeit, that which our Indian Abdoll declared (namely, that more ships
were comming besides the three aforesaid, and that others beside them were
also sent out of Zeland) little tended to our commodity: for thereupon the
Iauans tooke occasion to inhance the price of their pepper, insomuch that
we were forced to pay for 55. pounds of pepper first three, and afterward
four Reals of eight: neither did they demaund or call for any thing so much
as for the said Reals of eight. Mercery or haberdashers wares were in no
such request as money. Also we much marueiled, how the Iauans should tell
vs of more shippes to come, making signes with their foure fingers and
thumb, that foure Lyma (which word in their language signifieth shippes)
were comming.

And here you are to vnderstand, that our Generall Master Van Neck, together
with the commissaries or factors, thought good, besides the three forsaid
ships that came first, to lade one other, to wit, the greater pinnasse
called Frisland, whereof was Master Iacob Cornelison, and factor Walter
Willekens. [Sidenote: Foure ships laden.] These foure ships hauing receiued
their ful freight, and giuen notice on land of their departure (to the end
that none of their creditours might bee vnpaid) and also having well
prouided themselues of rice and wat