rst the sheep. As to wild animals, they have
buffaloes, stags, tygers, and rhinoceroses; which last animal is
hunted by the Indians chiefly for the sake of its horns, of which they
make drinking cups that are greatly valued, owing to a notion that
they will not contain poison, but break immediately on that being
poured into them. The high price of these tends to shew that the
Javanese are addicted to the infamous practice of poisoning. The land
is every where extremely fertile, producing vast abundance of pepper,
ginger, cinnamon, rice, cardamoms, and other valuable articles. Of
late they have planted coffee, and with such success as to have a
reasonable hope of rendering it a principal commodity of the country.
Cocoa-nuts, figs, and a variety of other excellent fruits grow every
where in the greatest profusion; and as the trees on which they grow
are verdant during the whole year, and are planted in rows along the
rivers, they form the most agreeable walks that can be conceived.
Sugar-canes also abound in Java. They have also plenty of vines, which
produce ripe grapes seven times every year, but they are only fit
for making raisins, and not wine, being too hastily ripened by the
climate. The sea, and all the rivers, furnish an infinite variety of
the finest fish. Thus, taking it altogether, it may be safely affirmed
that Java is one of the most plentiful and pleasantest islands in the
world.

Having refreshed at Japara for about a month, Roggewein began to
think of proceeding to Batavia, encouraged by the fine promises of the
governor-general. Every thing being ready, the voyagers spent two
days in taking leave of their kind friends, who supplied them with all
sorts of provisions, much more than sufficient for so short a voyage,
and they at length departed, feeling a sensible regret at parting with
those who had treated them with so much kindness, relieving all their
wants with so much generosity, and had enabled them to spend several
weeks in peace and plenty, after a long period of sickness and misery.
Steering from thence about seventy leagues to the westwards, with a
fair wind, they entered the road of Batavia, where they saluted the
fort, and anchored close to the ships that were loading for the voyage
home, believing that all their distresses were now over, and that they
should speedily accompany these other ships homewards. As soon as
the ships were safely anchored, Roggewein went along with the other
captains