The 25th Of June, The King Of Acheen Sent
Our General A Letter For The King Of England, Most Beautifully Written
And Painted, Of Which The Following Is A Translation Of The
Preamble.[94]
[Footnote 94:
Being merely complimentary, it has not been deemed
necessary to give any more of this letter than the hyperbolical titles
assumed by the petty Mallay rajah. - E.]
PEDUCKA SIRIE, Sultan, King of kings renowned in war, sole king of
Sumatra, more famous than his ancestors, feared in his dominions, and
honoured in all the neighbouring countries. In whom is the true image of
a king, reigning by the true rules of government, formed as it were of
the most pure metal, and adorned by the must splendid colours. Whose
seat is most high and complete; whence floweth, as a river of fine
crystal, the pure and undefiled stream of bounty and justice. Whose
presence is like the most pure gold: King of Priaman, and of the
mountain of gold: Lord of nine sorts of precious stones: King of two
Umbrellas of beaten gold; who sitteth upon golden carpets; the furniture
of whose horses, and his own armour, are of pure gold; the teeth of his
elephants being likewise of gold, and every thing belonging to them. His
lances half gold half silver; his small shot of the same; a saddle also
for an elephant of the same; a tent of silver; and all his seals half
gold half silver. His bathing-vessels of pure gold; his sepulchre also
entire gold, those of his predecessors being only half gold half silver.
All the services of his table of pure gold; &c.
This great king sendeth this letter of salutation to James, king of
Great Britain, &c.
This king of Acheen is a gallant-looking warrior, of middle size, and
full of spirit. His country is populous, and he is powerful both by sea
and land. He has many elephants, of which we saw 150 or 180 at one time.
His gallies are well armed with brass ordnance, such as demi-cannons,
culverins, sackers, minions, &c. His buildings are stately and spacious,
though not strong; and his court or palace at Acheen is very pleasant,
having a goodly branch of the main river surrounding and pervading it,
which he cut and brought in from the distance of six miles in twenty
days, while we were there. At taking leave, he desired our general to
offer his compliments to the king of England, and to entreat that two
white women might be sent him: "For," said he, "if I have a son by one
of them, I will make him king of Priaman, Passaman, and the whole pepper
coast; so that you shall not need to come any more to me, but may apply
to your own English king for that commodity."
Sec.2. Notes concerning the Voyage, extracted from the Journal of Mr
Robert Boner, who was Master of the Dragon.
The regular trade-wind is seldom met with till two or three degrees
south of the equator. Tornados are sure to be encountered in two or
three degrees north of the line, and sometimes even four degrees. It is
necessary to use the utmost diligence in getting well to the south, as
in that consists the difference between a good and bad voyage, and the
health of the men depend greatly on that circumstance. In passing the
line, it is proper so to direct the course from the island of Mayo as to
cross between the longitudes of seven and nine degrees west of the
Lizard, if possible. At all events be careful not to come within six
degrees, for fear of the calms on the coast of Guinea, and not beyond
ten degrees west from the Lizard if possible, to avoid the W.N.W.
stream which sets along the coast of Brazil to the West Indies; and in
crossing the line, in 7 deg., 8 deg., or 9 deg. west of the Lizard, you shall not
fear the flats of Brazil: For the general wind in these longitudes is at
E.S.E. or S.E. so that you may commonly make a S.S.W. course, so as to
keep the ship full that she may go speedily through; for there is much
loss of time in hauling the ship too close by the wind, and it is far
better therefore to give her a fathom of the sheet.
In making for the bay of Saldanha [Table bay,] keep between the
latitudes of 33 deg. 50' and 34 deg. 20' of S. lat. so as to be sure of coming
not much wide of the bay. If, on seeing the land, it appear high, you
are then to the S.W. of the bay: if low sand-hills, you are then to the
northward of the bay. In falling in with, the high land to the
southward, which is between the Cape of Good Hope and the bay, the land
trends N.N.W. and S.S.E. seven leagues from the Cape, and then trends
away N.E. and S.W. towards the point of the Sugar-loaf, some four
leagues. From this point of the Sugar-loaf lieth Penguin island; but
keep fair by the point, as two miles from Penguin island there are two
shoals. From the point to the island there are some seven or eight miles
N. and S. and so, borrowing on that point, in eight or nine fathoms,
steer a course S.E. and E.S.E. till you bring the Table S.S.W. and the
Sugar-loaf S.W. by W. when you may anchor in 6 or 6 1/2 fathoms as you
please; and then will the point of land by the Sugar-loaf bear W.N.W.
some two leagues off, and Penguin island N.N.W. some three leagues
distant. The latitude of the point going into the bay of Saldanha
[Table bay,] is 34 deg.
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