220
IIISTOKY OF INDIA.
[Book I.
Houtiniinii's injudicious conduct.
A.D. 1590. Ultimately, however, a treaty, offensive and defensive, was formed with the natives, though sufficient evidence was given, that whatever friendship tlie Portuguese might j)retend, nothing but enmity in every form, secret or open, was to be expected from them. The immediate corisequence of the treaty was the establishment of a Dutch factory at Bantam.
Houtmann, still continuing to wait for the anticipated reduction in the price of pepper, began to di.spose of his merchandise, to be paid for in pepper, at the price which it should bear when the new crop should be delivered. On these terms he found ready purchasers in the governor and .several of the other officials of the town. Meanwhile, the Portuguese continued their intrigues, and very plausibly maintained, that the irrational course which Houtmann was pursuing^ could only be accounted for by assuming that commerce was only a pretext, and that his real object was to make himself thoroughly acquainted with the loca- lity, with the view of afterwards returning and taking forcible posse.ssion of it. The effect of these insinuations soon became apparent. A pilot, who had all along manifested great friendship for the Dutch, was barbarously assassinated, and the pepper due on the purchases which had been made was not delivered. The Dutch, after uttering vain complaints, had recourse to menaces. Tliese were not lost upon the inhabitants, who immediately took all possible precau- tions. All the Java vessels in the harbour cut their cables, and ran ashore. At the same time, the Dutch were startled by the alarming intelligence that a large fleet, destined to act against them, was being prepared in a neiglibour- ing harbour.
Houtmann, though thus put upon his guard, had the rashness to go ashore with only seven attendants, and pay a visit to the governor. The result which might have been foreseen immediately followed ; and the whole party, as soon as they entered the palace, were arrested. The Dutch immediately attempted reprisals, by seizing the governor's interpreter and a number of his slaves. Houtmann's position was now precarious in the extreme; and he only saved himself from the death with which he was threatened, by sending a letter to the fleet, ordering the interpreter to be delivered up. Five of his companions were accordingly released, and an appearance of trade was resumed, though he himself still remained in captivity.
It was impossible that matters could long remain in this position; and it was therefore formally resolved, at a council held on board the Maurice, to intimate to the governor, that if the captain, Houtmann, and all his people, with everything belonging to them, were not delivered on the following day, the utmost force which they possessed v/ould forthwith be employed to obtain redress. No answer having been returned by mid-day, the four ves.sels drew near the town, and anchored in three fathoms. On the first news of this proceeding, the governor, in a rage, ordered the arrest of every Dutchman in the factory. They were all carried off, Houtmann along with tliem, to the place
Houtnianii made j)ri- iier.
Threatened retaliation.
