Page 456
An.1687
The Sultans Habit. Selling of Slaves.
The Sultan had a Silk Turbat, laced with nar- row Gold Lace by the sides, and broad Lace at the end: which hung down on one side the head, after the Mindanayan fashion. He had a sky-coloured Silk pair of Breeches, and a piece of red Silk thrown cross his shoulders, and hanging lofe about him; the greatest part of his back and waste appearing naked. He had neither Stocking nor Shoe. One of his Sons was about 15 or 16 year old; the other two were young things: and they were always in the arms of one or other of his Attendants.
Captain Read met him at the side, and led him into his small Cabbin, and fired 5 Guns for his welcome. Assoon as he came aboard he gave leave to his Subjects to traffick with us: and then our People bought what they had a mind to. The Sultan seemed very well pleased to be visited by the English; and said, he had coveted to have a sight of Englishmen, having heard extraordinary characters of their just and honorable dealings: but he ex- claimed against the Dutch (as all the Mindanayans, and all the Indians we met with do) and wisht them at a greater distance.
For Macasser is not very far from hence, one of the chiefest Towns that the Dutch have in those parts. From thence the Dutch come sometimes hi- ther to purchase Slaves. The Slaves that these Peo- ple get here and sell to the Dutch, are some of the idolatrous Natives of the Island, who not being under the Sultan, and having no head, live strag- gling in the Country, flying from one place to another to preserve themselves from this Prince and his Subjects, who hunt after them to make them Slaves. For the civilized Indians of the maritime places, who trade with Foreigners, if they can- not reduce the inland people to the Obedience of their Prince, they catch all they can of them and sell them for Slaves; accounting them to be but as