such existed they did not concern him. Acting on this independent view he commenced to trade at Hitoe, but had not proceeded far before he discovered that the islanders were in such deadly fear of the Hollanders that he could do little business. Jourdain now turned his attention to Ceram, an adjoining island of the group, which appeared to offer better prospects, as the Dutch influence there was not so powerful as at Amboina. At Luhu, one of the principal ports of the island, the English Commander saw the native chief and preferred to him a request for a site for a factory. The chief replied that the application must be made to the King of Temate, but he allowed it to be understood that the English would be welcomed if they could be sure that they would not suffer for their display of friendliness at the hands of the Dutch.
In consequence of this declaration Jourdain decided to seek an interview with the Dutch Governor in order to satisfy himself as to the precise attitude that was assumed. At the Dutch headquarters he found in the supreme official position Jan Pietersoon Coen, thereafter to become famous in Dutch history as the greatest of Grovemor Generals of Netherlands India. Coen was a man of stern, unyielding disposition, ambitious, and, according to his lights, intensely patriotic. He was largely the inspirer of the Dutch monopolistic policy and he pursued it throughout his career with a determination and a skill which largely contributed to the measure of success which ultimately attended it.
The meeting between two such men on an occasion in which clashing interests were so sharply opposed was bound to be of a stormy character. It was all that, if we may accept the account of the interview which Jourdain sets forth in his diary. From this it is to be gathered that
