BEGINNING OF THE TRAGEDY OF AMBOYNA 115 and half a pound of powder were found. The nearest English support was the Banda agency, at a distance across the sea, and containing but nine of their country- men. English ships seldom came to Amboyna, and not one was then near. Our president in council at Java had in fact resolved to withdraw the petty English fac- tories at Amboyna and throughout the Clove and Nut- THE FORTRESS AT AMBOYNA. meg Archipelago. He had even arranged with the Dutch governor-general for their transport to Batavia in Holland ships. In February, 1623, orders to this effect were on their way from our president in Batavia to Amboyna. They arrived too late. On the evening of February 10, 1623, a Japanese soldier of the Dutch garrison had some talk with the sentries about the number of the troops and the times of changing the watch. When questioned by the Governor Van Speult next day, Feb- ruary 11th, he explained that he had merely chatted with the soldiers " for his own amusement." Indeed,
