Tuesday 6.

This morning at sunrise I left the hotel and was carried to Mr. Sparling’s house, about four miles distant from the city and near the convalescent hospital which at this time had also sick men in it, the whole number of patients amounting to 800.  I found everything prepared for my comfort and convenience.  Mr. Sparling would suffer me to take no medicine though I had still considerable fever with headache:  but I found so much relief from the difference of the air that in the evening I was able to accompany Mr. Sparling on a visit to the governor-general at one of his country seats, where we found many ladies all dressed in the Malay fashion, some of them richly ornamented with jewels.  I had invitations from several gentlemen and some very kindly pressed me to make their country houses my abode till my health should be reestablished.

My indisposition increasing, Mr. Sparling advised me to quit Batavia as speedily as possible and represented the necessity of it to the governor-general.  I was informed from his excellency that the homeward-bound ships were so much crowded that there would be no possibility of all my people going in one ship, and that they could be accommodated no other way than by dividing them into different ships.  Seeing therefore that a separation was unavoidable I determined to follow the advice of the physician and, as a packet was appointed to sail for Europe on the 16th instant, I sent to request of the governor that I might be allowed to take a passage in her for myself and as many of my people as they were able to receive.  In answer to this I was acquainted that myself and two more could be accommodated in the packet, she being too small to admit a greater number; but that I might rest assured of passages being provided for those that remained by the earliest opportunities.

Friday 9.

This day anchored in the road the General Elliot, an English ship commanded by Captain Lloyd.  In the Straits of Banca he had met with some boats belonging to the East India Company’s ship Vansittart that was lost in the straits of Billaton by having struck on a rock that went through her bottom.  Captain Wilson, who commanded the Vansittart, I was informed had just finished a survey of those Straits and was hoisting his boat in when the ship struck.  Immediately on receiving the intelligence Captain Lloyd, in the General Elliot and another ship in company called the Nonsuch, sailed for the wreck.  They found the ship had been burnt down to the water’s edge by the Malays.  They however saved 40 chests of treasure out of 55 which were said to have been on board.  Most of the ship’s company were saved:  one man only was lost in the ship, and five others in a small boat were missing who were supposed to have taken some of the treasure.  The greater part of the people went with Captain Wilson to China, and some were with Captain Lloyd.

Saturday 10.