into his boat, meaning to have gone ashore to Batavia, but
had not proceeded far from the ship when he met a boat having the
commandant of Batavia on board, together with the fiscal, and some
other members of the council, by whom he was desired to go back to his
ship, which he did immediately; and, when the two boats came within
hearing of the ships, the fiscal proclaimed, with a loud voice, that
both ships were confiscated by order of the governor-general. At this
time both ships were so environed by other large vessels belonging
to the East India Company, that it was impossible to have escaped,
if they had so inclined; and soon afterwards several hundred soldiers
came on board, taking possession of both ships, and placing their
crews under safe custody. Taught by so many and such unlooked-for
misfortunes, Roggewein now thoroughly repented having proposed to
return home by way of the East Indies, but was now wise behind hand.
He had neglected prosecuting the discovery on which he had been
sent, for which he now suffered a just punishment from the East India
Company, however unjust in itself the sentence might be considered. By
the sentence, both ships were declared legal prizes, and all the goods
they contained were confiscated; and to prevent all trouble and delay
from representations, reclamations, or memorials, every thing was
immediately exposed to public auction, and sold to the highest
bidders. The crews of both ships were divided, and put on board
several of the homeward-bound ships.

SECTION VIII.

_Description of Batavia and the Island of Java, with some Account of
the Government of the Dutch East India Company's Affairs._

The city of Batavia lies in the lat. of 6 deg. 20' S. and long. 107 deg. E.
from Greenwich, being the capital of all the vast dominions belonging
to the Dutch East India Company, serving also as the emporium of
its prodigious trade, where all the merchandise and riches of that
princely and wealthy company are laid up. It fell into the hands of
the Dutch company in 1618, till which time it was known by the name of
_Jacatra_, and soon afterwards they built a fort in the neighbourhood
of that native city, to which they gave the name of Batavia. By the
time this was hardly well finished, the natives of the island attacked
it, animated and assisted by the English, and repeated their attempts
several times, but always unsuccessfully, and to their great loss.
The last time, they kept it blo