The Priest Was Sent To Demand Payment Of Rooba-Rooba[177] Before We Traded, Which I Refused Unless They Would Bind Themselves To Load Me With Mace And Nutmegs Within Four Months.

He offered them at 100 dollars, and I would not give past 90,[178] wherefore he took time for

Consideration; when I observed that they deferred till the Hollanders might arrive, which was now doubtful, as the monsoon was almost spent. He took his leave, without making any bargain, having a smooth outside, but a rough mind.

[Footnote 176: It appears in the sequel that this was some tax or custom. - E.]

[Footnote 177: Another tax or imposition. - E.]

[Footnote 178: We suppose the Katti is here meant, as no quantity is expressed in the text - ASTL. I. 323. c.]

The 16th three large Dutch ships came in, and shot thirty, sixteen, and nine pieces of excellent ordnance.[179] Two of these came from Ternate, where they had lost Paul Van Cardan, their admiral, with seventy-four of their men, being taken by the Spaniards. The Dutch offered a ransom for him of 50,000 dollars; but they would hearken to no terms, except the surrender of fort Machian, formerly taken from them by him. The 18th the Dutch officers of the two largest came to visit me, and staid to supper; yet an Englishman reported that they meant to surprise me before the end of a month.

[Footnote 179: This strange expression is probably meant to indicate the respective number of cannon in each ship.

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