navigators to the
Great South Land, and within three months of leaving Amsterdam the
"Golden Seahorse" came to anchor among a group of islands to the north
of New Holland known as the Molucca Islands, first visited by Sir
Francis Drake in the "Pelican" during the year 1579.

The competition between England and Holland for sea supremacy was at
this time very keen, and the ships of both nations sometimes carried a
broom at the masthead to signify the sweeping of the ocean. We found,
however, no English or other vessels to dispute with us our landing at
the Moluccas, where the King received us with some ceremony.

Providing ourselves with presents, Hartog and I, attended by the ship's
officers, went ashore to pay our respects to the King, who accepted our
tribute graciously, and, looking up to heaven, said:

"I know that nothing happens to men which has not, long since, been
decreed by Fate. So bring your ship into the harbour and let your
companions land in safety, in order that, after so much tossing about
on the sea, and so many dangers, you may securely enjoy the comforts of
life on shore and recruit your strength."

Having thus spoken, the King laid aside his diadem, and embraced each
of us in turn. He then directed such refreshments as the country
produced to be set before us.

The people of the Moluccas cannot be classed as savages. They possess
an intelligence and form of government which lifts them above
aboriginal natives. Each island has its king, who is, nevertheless,
subservient to the chief Thedori, by whom we were received. This
monarch is a man of small stature, but reputed wise beyond the wisdom
of most men.

Certain it is he made wise laws for the good government of his kingdom,
one of which might, with advantage, be followed by law-makers in more
civilized nations. This is the law which makes for peace. So long as
the king upon each island maintains peace, his people show him almost
divine honours; but, if he is anxious for war, they never rest till he
is slain by the enemy in battle, and to this end they set him in the
front rank, where he has to stand the whole brunt of the combat. His
armies, moreover, do not exert themselves vigorously until they know
that the king has fallen. Then they begin to fight for liberty and
their new king. Since this law was enacted no king has entered upon a
war without being slain in battle. Hence peace reigns, where formerly
continued hostilities prevailed.

Th