This settlement was formed in the year 1630 and is the only one the Dutch have on the island Timor.  They have residents in different parts of the country.  On the north side of Timor there is a Portuguese settlement.  The produce of the island is chiefly sandalwood and beeswax:  the former article is now scarce.  Wax they have in great plenty.  The bees build their nests in bushes and in the boughs of trees to which the natives cannot approach but with fire.  The honey is put into jars and the wax is run into blocks of three feet in length and from 12 to 15 inches square.  The natives, at least those who live in the neighbourhood of Coupang, are of a very indolent disposition, of which the Chinese have taken advantage, for, though the Malays are very fond of traffic, most of their trade is carried on in small Chinese vessels of from 10 to 30 tons burden.  There is a market at Coupang for the country people in which however there is little business done.  I have seen a man from the country come to market with two potatoes:  and this is not unusual.  These being sold for two doits (equal to a halfpenny English) serve to supply him with betel to chew; and the remainder of the day is passed in lounging about the town.  The inland people, who live at a distance from the Europeans, are strong and active, but their want of cleanliness subjects them to filthy diseases.

The chief of the natives, or king of the island, is by the Dutch styled Keyfer (Emperor).  This prince lives at a place called Backennassy, about four miles distant from Coupang.  His authority over the natives is not wholly undisputed; which is by the Dutch attributed to the intrigues of the Portuguese, who are on the north part of Timor.  The island has lately suffered much by a competition between the present king and one of his nephews, which caused a civil war that lasted from the beginning of the year 1786 to 1788, when their differences were settled by a treaty, chiefly in favour of the king.  The ravages committed in these disputes have occasioned a scarcity of provisions that probably, from the want of industry in the natives, will not soon be remedied.  I had an opportunity of making a visit to the king.  His dwelling was a large house which was divided into only three apartments and surrounded by a piazza, agreeably situated but very dirty, as was all the furniture.  The king, who is an elderly man, received me with much civility and ordered refreshments to be set before me, which were tea, rice cakes, roasted Indian corn, and dried buffalo flesh, with about a pint of arrack, which I believe was all he had.  His dress was a check wrapper girded round his waist with a silk and gold belt, a loose linen jacket, and a coarse handkerchief about his head.  A few of his chiefs were with him who partook of our repast; after which the king retired with three of them for a short time and when he returned presented me with a round plate of metal about four inches diameter on which was stamped the figure of a star.  As I had been informed that arrack would be an acceptable present I was prepared to make a return which was well received.  They never dilute their liquor and from habit are able to drink a large quantity of spirits at a time without being intoxicated.