reat curiosity,
differing little in form from ours, but its extended wings measure a
full yard, and its body is as large as a rat.

There are great numbers of excellent fish of different sorts to be had
in the adjoining sea, and so plentiful and cheap that as much may be
bought for three-pence as will dine six or seven men. Tortoises or
sea-turtle also are abundant, their flesh resembling veal, and there
are many persons who think it much better. The flat country round
Batavia abounds in all kinds of provisions; and to prevent all danger
of scarcity, vessels belonging to the Company are continually employed
in bringing provisions, spiceries, and all other necessaries, from the
most distant parts of the island, together with indigo, rice, pepper,
cardamoms, coffee, and the like. In the magazines and store-houses,
there are always vast quantities of rich and valuable commodities, not
of Java only, but of all parts of India, ready to be transported to
other parts of the Company's dominions, in the ships which return
annually to Holland.

The homeward-bound ships sail five times every year from Batavia. The
first fleet sails in July, generally consisting of four or five sail,
which touch on their way at the island of Ceylon. The second, of six
or seven vessels, sails in September. The third usually consists
of from sixteen to twenty ships, and leaves Batavia in October. The
fourth, of four or five vessels, sails in January. And the fifth,
being only a single ship, generally sails in March, but not till the
arrival of the fleet from China which brings the tea, of which the
principal part of the cargo of this ship consists, wherefore it is
usually called the _tea-ship_: The common people call it also the
_book-ship_ as it carries home the current account of the whole year,
by which the Company is enabled to judge of the state of its trade
in India. It is to be observed that these ships, laden with the rich
commodities of many countries, all sail from this single port of
Batavia; the ships from Mokha which carry coffee, being the only
vessels in the service of the Dutch East India Company that are
allowed to proceed directly home without going to Batavia.

SECTION IX.

_Description of Ceylon._

The next best government belonging to the Dutch East India Company,
after Batavia, is that of the island of Ceylon. The governor of this
island is generally a member of the council of the Indies, and has
a council appointed t