l worse, as
the revenues of this settlement fell short of its expences. Yet the
company could hardly carry on the trade to India, were it not in
possession of this place, as here only the ships can meet with water
and other refreshments on the outward and homeward-bound voyages; and
these are indispensably necessary, especially for such ships as are
distressed with the scurvy. This place so abounds in all sorts of
provisions, that there never is any scarcity, notwithstanding the vast
yearly demand, and all ships putting in here are supplied at moderate
rates. These refreshments consist of beef, mutton, fowls, fruit,
vegetables, wine, and every thing, in short, that is necessary, either
for recovering the sick on shore, or recruiting the sea-stores for
the continuance of the voyage out or home. In the space of a year, at
least forty outward-bound ships touch here from Holland alone, and
in these there cannot be less than eight or nine thousand people. The
homeward-bound Dutch ships are not less than thirty-six yearly, in
which there are about three thousand persons; not to mention
foreign vessels, which likewise put in here, and have all kinds of
refreshments furnished to them at reasonable rates. There are almost
always some ships in this road, except in the months of May, June, and
July, when the wind usually blows with great violence at N.W. and then
the road is very dangerous.

SECTION XI.

_Account of the Directories of Coromandel, Surat, Bengal, and Persia._

Having now given a short view of the governments in the disposal of
the Dutch East-India Company, which are a kind of principalities, as
each governor, with the advice and assistance of his council, is a
kind of sovereign, and acts without controul through the whole extent
of his jurisdiction, we are now to consider the other establishments
of the company in India, for carrying on this extensive trade. In all
the countries where their affairs require it, they have factories, in
each of which there is a chief, with some title or other, having also
a council to assist him in regard to matters of policy or trade. Among
these, the directories of Coromandel, Surat, Bengal, and Persia are
all of great importance, and the direction of them is attended with
great profit. The directors have the same power with the governors,
within their respective jurisdictions; only that they cannot execute
any criminal sentences within the countries in which they reside, so