BOOK OF DISPATCHES. 53
the productions of their country, the fruits and animals, the buildings, the shape and faces of the people, their clothing, arms, morals, manners, food, trade, religion, government, war, and everything worthy of remark; particularly whe- ther they are peaceable or malicious.
You are to show the samples of the goods which you carry along with you, to inquire what materials and goods they possess, and what is wanted of ours ; all which you are closely to observe, well to annotate, and correctly to de- scribe ; for which reasons you are to keep a very circum- stantial journal, wherein all particulars may be perfectly inserted, by which, upon your return, you may give a satis- factory report to us.
If any country be discovered peopled by a civilized nation (as apparently will not be the case), you may depend more upon them than upon the wild savages ; try to con- verse with their governors and subjects, and to establish an acquaintance ; inform them you come there to trade, show them the goods in proper order ; for this purpose laden on board of both the yachts and the tender, amounting to the sum of 2,809 guilders, IT stivers, and 3 penningen, of all which the junior merchants have to keep books in proper order, by which they (when called upon) may be enabled to give a satisfactory account.
Shewing the samples and goods, you and the junior mer- chants are carefully to remark what goods the strange nations most esteem, and to which they are most inclined ; likewise inquire what merchandize and goods they possess, particu- larly after gold and silver, and whether these metals are held in great esteem ; to keep them ignorant of the precious value, seem not greedy after it ; if they offer to barter for your goods, seem not to covet these minerals, but shew them copper, tutenag,^ pewter and lead, as if these were of more value to us. If you find them inclined to trade, keep the
1 Zinc.
