Page 366
An.1686
Captain Swan's ill conduct.
Arms, in hopes to get a nights Lodging with them.
When we were all aboard on Christmas-day, Cap- tain Swan and his two Merchants ; I did expect that Captain Swan would have made some pro- posals, or have told us his designs ; but he only dined and went ashore again, without speaking a- ny thing of his mind. Yet even then I do think that he was driving on a design, of going to one of the Spice Islands, to load with Spice ; for the young man before mentioned, who I said was sent by his Uncle, the Sultan of a Spice Island near Ternate, to invite the English to their Island, came aboard at this time, and after some private dis- course with Captain Swan, they both went ashore together. This young man did not care that the Mindanaians should be privy to what he said. I have heard Captain Swan say that he offered to load his Ship with Spice, provided he would build a small Fort, and leave some men to secure the Island from the Dutch ; but I am since informed, that the Dutch have now got possession of the Island.
The next day after Christmas the General went away again, and 5 or 6 Englishmen with him, of whom I was one, under pretence of going a hunt- ing ; and we all went together by Water in his Proe, together with his Women and Servants, to the hunting place. The General always carried his Wives and Children, his Servants, his Money and Goods with him : so we all imbarked in the morning, and arrived there before night. I have already described the fashion of their Proes, and the rooms made in them. We were entertained in the Generals Room or Cabbin. Our Voyage was not so far, but that we reached our Port before night. At