Borneo is the largest of all the islands in the East-Indies; and its capital, of the same name, contains about 300 houses, but is built in a dirty marshy soil, or rather in the water, so that the inhabitants have to go from one house to another in their praws.  The inhabitants all go constantly armed, from the noble down to the fisherman; and even the women are of so martial a disposition, that on receiving an affront, they instantly revenge it, either with a dagger or a javelin.  This a Dutchman had nearly proved to his cost; for having offended one of these viragoes, she set upon him with a javelin, and had surely dispatched him, if she had not been prevented by main force.  They are Mahometans, and so very superstitious, that they would rather die than eat of swine’s flesh, nor will they keep any of these animals about them.  The better sort have a cotton garment from the waist down, with a turban on their heads; but the common people go entirely naked.  They continually chew betel and areka, which is also a common practice in many other parts of India.

On the 4th January, four Borneans came to the ship, intending to have cut the cables, that she might drive on shore and become their prey; but the Dutch fortunately discovered them, and drove them away with shot, when they left their praw behind, which the Dutch took, to serve instead of their own boat, which they had lost at the Philippines.  Seeing no hope of any profitable trade at this place, they now left it, intending for Bantam, not much pleased either with the country or the people.  The day after leaving Borneo, they met a junk from Japan bound for Manilla, which informed them of a great Dutch ship being forced by tempests into Japan, all her company having died by sickness and famine except fourteen.  They came first to Bongo, in lat. 34 deg. 40’ N. [Bungo in about lat. 33 deg.  N.] whence the emperor of Japan ordered them to remove to Atonza, in lat. 36 deg. 30’ N. [Osaka in lat. 34’ 55’ N.] They alleged that they were allowed to trade, and to build a new ship, with liberty to dispose of themselves afterwards as they pleased.  From this account, it was not doubted that this was the admiral of Verhagen’s fleet;[80] and dismissing the Japanese vessel, they passed the line a third time, and proceeded for Bantam, in no little fear and danger, for want of an experienced pilot and good charts.

[Footnote 80:  This was the ship in which William Adams sailed as pilot, as related on a former occasion, being the Hope, commanded by James Mahu, one of five ships from Rotterdam.  We have already had occasion to meet with two of these in the Straits of Magellan.—­E.]