Notes from Peter Floris His Voyage to the East Indies in the Globe, 1611-1615 Siam, Pattani, Bantam.
• We set sail from the Downes with a northwest wind.
• … a man fell overboard, but having a contrary wind… .
• We were in the height of 33½ degrees, and saw the Island of Porto Southwest by South about 7 leagues from us.
• We had variable weather and a rough sea: towards evening rain, which rain brought red sand over all the ship.
• Being misty weather, … , we saw land hard by us … and clearing up towards the evening… we saw the very high peak of Teneriffe.
• We passed Tropicum Cancri with a good speedy way… three degrees by North de lynea [i.e. of the Equator], we saw a great ship, but could not come to speak with her.
• We were about the height of the line, and saw two ships north from us, and a sail south from us, but could not speak with them.
• Carvels, or caravels—light, fast sailing vessels.
• “The longitude cannot be taken at all”, “the variation of the compass was found to be of some use.”
• … we could not understand much by him (Portuguese).
• …having spent about 15 days in great calms and rain; we then got the general southeast wind, and had 4½ degrees variation…
• Having a great storm out of the west and west-south-west lasting three days… during which time of 36 hours we hulled, fearing to come too near the shore in the night with so strong a wind…
• “To hull” is to drift to the wind with sails furled… .
• Mangas de veludo—sleeves of velvet… .
• Capo de Bona Eperanza.
• We saw land again, and that evening came into the bay.
• … fell to the ordering of the ship, and hooping of our cask to fill fresh water.
• Refreshing ourselves with 80 sheep and 20 neate [i.e. cattle.]
• The wind turning southeast with rain, being the after spring of the full moon.
• The wind yet southeast with storm and rain; in the night we took in our sails, for not blowing of…
• … so that a man must take good heed, especially in the night time, for he would be ashore before he be aware… .
• … we passed a great ship at road with divers masulls and boats, but according to our commissioner we did not annoy them… .
• Masulls—surf boats… .
• Coming towards them, they began to shot, and though we showed them all token of friendship, yet would they not believe us…
• … passing over the shallow, not being in length above a musket shot, having but three fathom water, which is very dangerous for great ships.
• Here come two boats aboard of us, with one being sent from the Shahbandar, the other from the Hollanders.
• … we were English merchants, desiring therefore to send us a caule or conduct to land some of our men and to make an agreement to trade there.
• Came the Shahbandar men aboard again, bringing a caull or conduct from the Shahbandar that we might come freely on shore.
• Robert Browne was one of the three principal merchants on the Globe.
• Director and President were in practice more or less interchangeable at the time, both denoting an officer in superior charge of a group of factories.
• And thereby hazard our voyage of our monsoon for Bantam. “to lose one’s voyage”= “one’s monsoon.”
• Hollanders had two elephants asailing, worth a great deal of money.
• … sending him three yards of cloth and a looking glass for the present.
• … being a place situated between Pulicat and St. Thomé… (Madraspatam).
• … coming aboard in the evening, we set sail at night.
• Reals of eight—Spanish silver coins worth about 4s 6d.
• … and not being able to go ashore by reason of the great roughness and falling of the sea.
• The pagoda, the principal gold coin current in Golconda, was worth at this time about 7s or 7s 6d.
• … hindered by calms and contrary winds… .
• … we entered the Strait of Sunda… whereas we met with a might stream which put us back again out of the Strait…
• There we took in some fresh water… .
• Being arrived in the road of Bantam… .
• … raw silks, velvets, damasks or taffetas… .
• The lawnes = denotes here the plain calico or piece-goods bought in India.
• Here we lost a man by the flixe [i.e. flux, dysentery].
• Tanjong Patani, projecting sharply towards the northwest and sheltering the Bay of Patani. The town lies some little way up the river, and the Sabrangh would thus denote the lowland between the town and the coast. [Saberang = across the river].
• In the evening we sent John Persons and Nasir Khan on shore, to give notice that we were Englishmen, and that we had a letter from His Majesty to the Queen of Patani.
• … we should stay with our letter till next Thursday… for they must first make themselves ready to receive it honorably. And afte we had bestowed some presents upon them…
• … having translated the letter and received some presents, they went on shore again.
• We went on shore in very great stake, taking with us a present of about 600 R8 to accompany the King’s letter… .
• … the letter, being laid in a basin of gold, was carried upon an elephant, with minstrels and a good many lances and little flags. The Queen’s Court being sumptuously prepared, whereas the letter was read… .
• From thence we were brought to the Dato Laksamana, the Shahbandar and the chieftain of the strangers. There a banquet of fruit was set before us.
• After we had eaten something there are some speeches had, and entreaties of Henrick Jansen to lodge in his house that night… we rode upon elephants homeward.
• In the morning came Datoe Besare and Dato Laksamana down in the Balai [hall of audience, or court of an official].
• Towards evening the Queen sent us a refreshing aboord of some meat and fruits.
• … would build a house for us themselves… .
• The great and excessive customs and gifts which they demanded of us… 72 ta. 5 ma. 2 coupon for a gift… fourtimes sombah dating, sombah berniaga, sombah daching, sombah musim (monsoon).
• … what kings gave one to the other was another matter… but this belonged to the gentility and certain officers, whereof the Queen only hath a part… .
• … to the contrary we had a great deal of Malaysian apparel [i.e. dress-goods made in India specially for the Malay market].
• God Almighty grant him a joyful resurrection, and the like to us all. Amen.
• Deceased Mr. Thomas Smith, masters mate, an excellent astronomer and seaman.
• In the night we had thieves in the house… .
• My rapier, which had at least 25 R8 in silver upon it… .
• God grant them a prosperous voyage. Since we came from Bantam we have lost 12 men of the flux… .
• Bancosea—port in northwest corner of the Bight of Bangkok… .
• … for fear of the tigers and flash floods… .
• … the transit dues charged at Malacca were very high, the practice of carrying the trade between India and Siam across the Malay Peninsula developed largely… .
• … the Worshipful Company… .
• … we get leave to build a packhouse… .
• … to taste of a sour apple… .
• The 15th of August… casting anchor in the evening at 3 fathom, being high water; but the next day, the water ebbed 13 hours, there was but 7 foot depth, but being muddy ground and very fair weather the ship endured no great hurt.
• The 17th of September… came before the King and had audience, … asked the disposition of His Majesty, and how long we had been from home, and after that bidde us welcome and promised us free trade; and, after that he had given every one a little golden cup and a little piece of clothing… .
• … by reason of the knaveries of the Mandarins… .
• … hiring a junk for the same purpose for 96 R8… .
• … the ship began to be eaten by worms… it was thought fit to seek a convenient place to have the ship doubled… .
• … the town (Ayudhia), being some 30 leagues (league=3 miles), of, and now being the time of raining, the country being covered with water, the tide come very fiercely downwards, so that the junk did not come before the town till the 25th of October.
• … by their great violence and knaveries, whereof the King was ignorant; for the Mandarins sending aboard of the junk to wrap up and seal all the goods, and so to carry them into the King’s house or factory, whereas they open all the packs and take out what pleaseth them best… and before any payment can be had one must give half as much for bribes: truly a very large knavery, the like whereof is not used in all the Indies… .
• … from the smoke into the fire… a sudden storm and pouring rain… the trees were blown out of the ground.
• … they got a cable to the third anchor and let that fall, by which she was stayed and so was saved… .
• This storm lasted not passed 4 or 5 hours, then began to grow less, so that the next morning the sea was as smooth as if there had been no wind at all… .
• … it is to be wondered how the sea can be so rough in this bay, seeing the corners point out so far, have some islands,… one of the best bays that can be wished, being but that wind coming from the south-southwest… that blows through the opening between the land and the islands.
• … willed the men to be called together to given thanks to God for His so merciful delivery…
• Calling him rogue, rascall, dog, and other such like vile… wishing himself and the ship with the devil, … such blasphemous words.
• Cod-piece—bagged appendage to the close fitting hose or breeches worn at the period.
• … fled into the gun room… called the gunner… .
• God be praised.
• Syriam (close to Rangoon) was the chief seaport of the kingdom.
• … the beginning and hardest of the winter, having hard northeast and north-northeast winds, so that it was not possible to double the point of Redangh. [Great Redang—most easterly land on the course southward to Bantam or the Straits.]
• China commodities—goods exported from China—silk, porcelain, other specialties.
• Skinner… much inclined to drunk drinking, playing dicing, etc.
• … leopard to alter his spots… old copper for rusty iron… .
• The Queen, being accompanied by a great train of prahus, above 600 in number, went to sport herself, going at first to lye at Sabrangh, where they assembled themselves; … in company of the Hollanders, being a comely old woman, now about the age of 60 years; she was tall of person and full of majesty… not many like unto her.
• After we had some conference with her, she let fall the curtain, which signified that we must depart.
• In the morning we came thither again, where they entertained us reasonably well. There were 12 women and children to dance, which did it so well that I have not seen better in all the Indies.
• That being done, all the gentility were commanded to dance, from the greatest to the smallest, or at least make a show or demonstration thereof, which caused no small laughter; when we and the Hollanders must do likewise, wherewith the old Queen was much rejoiced.
• … she would go hunting of wild buffaloes and bulls, whereof there is great abundance there.
• She and all her train passed along by the city, and coming between our house and the ship, we did salute her with shooting some pieces from the ship and some musket shot ashore.
• In this winter of November and December the water, by reason of the continual rain, was so high here… many beasts died, many houses floated away, and much harm done.
• At this period Japan was one of the few countries from which silver could be freely exported; this fact… principal attraction of trade for merchants like Dutch, who required silver in large quantities.
• Time will show the truth thereof. Time will show all.
• But a great oversight hath been committed in the bespeaking of the foresaid Malay cloth… a little narrow white edge, and the upright [proper] Malays cloth must be without it… will not once put forth their hands to look upon them… Those Malays say they be Siams sortes… as also the red yarn, which will no kind of way vent here.
• … cannot come to the making of the price for the King’s cloth. For which cause the other shipkeepers dare not be so bolde as to buy one piece of cloth till the King be furnished and his price agreed; which time will show.
• The King, not liking the pieces of the taken goods, hath given it all back again, after having kept it above two months in his house. A pitiful case when Kings become merchants, but that is used through all the Indies.
• … the cargason consisting in sappan wood [Caesalpina sappan, a dye-wood produced largely in Siam.]
• From Siam great trade may be done in Japan, both in the foresaid sappan as also in skins, wax and other such like goods, as also lacquers [i.e. lac]; but the most of the capital consisteth of deer-skins.
• … sorry news, as that Kampong China had twice been burned, the great English house, being full of cloth, wholly burned, as also the Holland House, with a mighty loss.
• … the English had taken 13 sails of Gujarat, being very richly laden…
• … met an English ship going for Coromandel, having want of water, so that these junks let them have 30 pots, letting them without any hurt.
• The Queen sent for us to the court, whereas was a great feast in honor of the King of Pahang: and there was played a comedy by all women, to the manner of Java, which were appareled very grotesquely, very pleasant to behold, so as I doubt not to have seen the like in any place.
• About noon we saw a ship over the Sabrang, but being rainy weather both we and the Dutch sent a prao to know what the ship was, who returned about 7 of the clock saying she was the Globe…
• Jangomay = Chiengmai, Laniangh or Lanjangh = Lanxang.
• Being the first day of Lent in the Moorish style [Ramadhan] about 8 of the clock in the morning, there rose a mighty fire in the town, or rather fort and court, of Patania.
• Datoe Besar and Datoe Laksamana, dwelling amoost near one to the other… the richest of slaves of Javanians.
• Punto Gorbangh = Great Gate.
• …took the best bondwomen… .
• … paid the Queen and taken leave of her, which in the troublesome time was in homely manner enough, giving to me and Mr. Essington a golden kris… .
• … the armade [i.e. fleet] of Achin was before the town to besiege it; … and to come into the river as high as they could with the ship, for to fight against the Achiners, but after 29 days siege the town was yielded up to them by agreement… .
• In such manner they came to Patania, having 48 men aboard… In the evening we supped with the Dutchmen… .
• The regular route taken by the Portuguese is shown to have kept close to the South of Singapore Island, passing through two distinct straits… .
• … so Floris most probably obtained them from the Saletter, or sea-gipsy, whom he employed as a pilot… .
• … which for the most part live in the proas with their wives and children, living chiefly by fishing… .
• … to build up again the fort and city of Johor, with good store of ordnance and other necessaries… .
• I went myself ashore, and the oysters being so fair and good I ate as many as made me sick.
• 16 November 1654… the sails were unfurled in order not to miss out on this favorable wind (for the wind we had long waited). We ran from the roads to a spot past the town of Vlissengen, where late in the evening we dropped anchor… .
• 12 August 1655… We were in sight of the coast of Malaya, the length of which was covered with many mountains and hills that, although not very high, could be seen from afar.
• … we could not see the land because we took a northwest course, gradually entering the Bay of Siam.
• Near the evening we saw the coast of Malaya again, in the form of a very wide and high mountain flanked by hills…
• In the morning it was fairly calm, sometimes with a little breeze. In the evening there came a squall from the coast and much rain.
• In the morning there was a keen wind with a clear breeze. We kept close to the shore, difficult to see because of hazy weather… In the evening we passed the island Cornebom (Ko Tao), a low and hilly island not far from the mainland.
• In the morning there was little wind. We hugged the upper coast as much as possible, gradually entering the bay… .
• … not far from the islands next to Cape Liam (near present-day Sattahip). They are all fairly large islands with low mountains and hills, densely covered with trees among which there is much teak and other wood that is useful to make into beams and other timber for ships and houses… We now could see land on both sides because the coast is at times fairly high with some large mountains… the bay was… 15-16 or more leagues wide.
• … we arrived and anchored in the roadstead at the mouth of the Siam River, firing three shots to signify a safe journey.
• … the rigging consisted mainly of rattan string and the like… .
• They flew a flag with many red and white stripes (on the admiral’s mast). They also flew solid red and red and white checkered flags at the stern and banners on the other topmasts…
• … sailed with our sloop up river so that we could hand over the letter from His Excellency the Governor-General and the Honorable Council of India to the factor leader Mr. Volckerus Westerwoldt.
• Around two or three glasses in the evening (with the rising moon), moving as quietly under sail as possible, we approached (under foresail) so close to the flute, the flagship, that one could almost leap aboard, whereupon they all appeared with guns, shouting loudly.
• We dropped anchor and sent first mate Barent van Gelmerdam… with the sloop, demanding her license or pass, or that the captain accompany him in person back to the ship. The latter (being a crusader) proudly refused.
• … ordered them to hold ready the powder or firepots… .
• Cannon, flintlocks, muskets, harquebuses, other ordnance with iron shrapnel and some gravel and stone bullets… shot at our rigging… all this lasted some four or five glasses… our prepared cartridges… .
• … take him by force (after some volleys with cannon and muskets) by grappling and boarding him.
• We cleared the gun deck completely, bringing all chests, cages, and other obstructive material into the hold, as well as the sick… several suffering from beriberi. Thus our guns (about 28 of them.. 2 half-metal great guns=cannon-royal) could move freely and we could play them merrily… .
• … sailing upriver to the Company’s warehouse at the place called Amsterdam…
• … by royal decree everyone has full and equal freedom on the river.
• 22 August… A Siamese boat arrived with some officials from the shore. They wanted to know the name of our ship, its size, cannon, and crew, and other information, including the name of the captain, and the time when we attacked… show the wounds… the shots… and the undamaged rigging… all written down in order (so they said)… report to the King.
• Mouth of the Chao Phraya River lies at 13½ degrees… on 23 August the sun stood at noon exactly at 90 degrees above the horizon. Use of an astrolabe.
• … a Siamese vessel came alongside carrying oranges, eggs, chickens, and other victuals for barter.
• Number of shots through into the hull… foremast… much of the irreparable trim and rigging.
• Bangkok is one of the major settlements on the river, seven leagues upstream of the Amsterdam wherehouse.
• When [our party] left ship we discharged three cannon in their honor.
• … the boat with the gifs for the King and other grandees of this country… .
• 29 August… 30 pigs as provisions… pots and pickles, salted lemons, small salted Siamese cheeses… sacks of white rice, bean, pulses, onions, leeks, dried fish, etc…
• … a Siamese prow with victuals came alongside in order to barter… chickens, eggs, bananas, oranges… hard dried fish, coconuts.
• … went upriver (above Bangkok) for fresh water. Because of the tide the water and the estuary is brackish and unfit for drinking.
• … going to Bangkok to remain there during the coming northern monsoon… .
• …trading from the town of Macao… 300 lasts (600 tons) in size, having six iron pieces, many bass-guns (barce, Fr.), hooks, and other utility armament, and a much bigger crew than ours.
• … very old, her back buckled three or four times particularly in the middle…
• Her cargo… coconut oil, ripe coconuts, ripe bananas, and rice… and other cheap wares. They return mainly with gold chains, hat-bands, buttons, and other very unusual golden objects which they offer for sale. Sorely tempted us… .
• Everyone of these barges was commanded by a Dutchman, called barge-master. For stowage each of them engages 8 to 10 coolies. For each he receives a fueng per day for expenses (less than 4 stivers). From this money the barge-master has to supply them with rice, dried fish, arrack, lard, betel leaves, areca nuts, and the like, but all this is astoundingly cheap here. Every coolie receives a fueng per day for the time they serve on the barges, but when they travel overnight they get double wages, namely one salueng for a day and night… [salueng = Europeans call maas.]
• … Ban Chao Phraya, a small village at the mouth of the river which all in- and out-going shipping must halt on the king’s order and pay toll. They let us pass free and unmolested however.
• … I spent this day observing the woods and plains around here. The trees were all uncultivated and bare no fruit, except some nipa, trees without a trunk whose long straight leaves sprout very abundantly from the roots. Between the leaves a certain fruit eventually appears. It is like a pineapple… when it is properly ripened… cut it off… drain or leak out a white substance or sap, called by the Siamese namchak… when it is still fresh, the liquid has a sweet and pleasant taste, somewhat lifting the spirits, but after a few hours it becomes strong and sour, and when it is consumed a person gets insensible and raving… An even headier effect is had by arrack, the wine distilled from this our juice and rice… abundantly and cheaply to be had here.
• The land is everywhere low and marshy, and is completely flooded for several months each year (because of the strong flow of water upstream) so that one can travel overland by boat… In this region there are few or no fruit trees and plantations due to the extremely low latitude of the land and its salinity, as from time to time (at spring tide) salt water covers the ground completely, so that it is not suitable for sowing and planting.
• … Amsterdam has a large, strong wooden warehouse made of thick heavy beams and planks lashed together and covered with tiles. It sits on many poles about half a man’s height off the ground… sappan wood prepared as cargo.
• … Barckhout (now [mostly] empty came tacking upstream…).
• 7 September… we arrived at Bangkok. This is a fairly large place with many houses facing each other, but all are rather shoddily built on high stilts, of which the posts and beams, walls… were made only of bamboo. Many of them had only walls made of mats of straw or the leaves of katjangs (pulses) together with such coconut palm leaves.
• The priests, however, had wooden buildings, covered with tiles… on stilts because of the muddy ground… this are quite fertile… coconut palms, orange trees, lemons, bananas, areca nut palms, etc.
• For this reason this is one of the best known markets (or as they say pasar) on the whole river, bringing the king annually a large income from trade duties. Business is conducted mainly on large and small boats… .
Pra Panan Choeng. This image was made some years before Ayuttaya was founded; at 19 meters high, it is one of the largest Buddha images in the city. It was created as a thank-offering for the very prosperous trade which existed between that place and China and indicates that there was a thriving commercial center here many years before King U Tong founded Ayuttahaya. (Ayutthaya Venice of the East by Derick Garnier.)
• … idolatrous temples, very elegant in their heathen way and constructed at no little cost. They stand on small hills and are constructed purely of stone masonry. The gables on both ends are artfully cared and usually gilded and the roofs covered with tiles. In front of them stood some high, slender, and richly gilded pyramids… ashes of some grand person… .
• … they shoot a quantity of rockets, and other artful fireworks up into the air… .
• … five or six priests sat near a sick person, entertaining him with drums and sundry musical instruments, as they sought, according to their blind, heathenish belief, to chase away the devil and evil spirits. Note how these ignorant and simple folk are deceived by their priests, true disciples of Satan.
• Bangkok… about seven leagues above the Amsterdam warehouse. We rowed fast in order to get as far upriver as possible. Because the current gradually fought us more and more, so that it was much easier to go downstream, we were forced to move up very close to the bank [as we went].
• … Talat Kaew. This is a fairly large town. It too has a famous daily pasar or market for all kinds of wares, set up (like at Bangkok) in some small and larger boats, and also in some houses built over the water especially for this purpose. There was a lively crowd… bought watermelons, areca-nuts, betel leaf for the boat coolies or rowers
• … did not want Dutch money… salueng as being fakes or already old… Their most common currency… long pieces of refined silver beaten almost completely round, and stamped with a small figure such as an elephant, deer, or the like… called the tical. (4 ticals = 1 tael or tamlueng; 20 taels = 1 catty or chang; 4 maas or salueng = 1 tical; 1 fueng = 1/8 tical = ½ maas; ½ fueng = 1 song phai = 300 cowries, the small gray-whitish shells that are well known for their use in Bengal… the common people prefer to receive these shells, for this is a form of specie that cannot be faked or used falsely… Dutch rix-dollar = 6 or 6½ maas… Spanish reals, crowns = 5 maas.)
• In Talat Kaew… Chinese who made their living by cloth-dying… passed a great number of large and small boats going from place to place… laden with firewood, atap, katjang, fruit, etc., and most… roofs providing shelter against rain and the hot sunshine.
• The women usually stood with their breasts completely bare, and this was the only way to distinguish them from the men, for they wear the same sort of clothing and they must shave their heads bald with a knife several times in the course of a year, both the rich and the poor, in order to show proper respect for the king, who alone is entitled to wear long hair.
• Chao Sut’s three daughters… regarded as quasi-Dutch children… mistresses or concubines of the Dutch, of which (God forbid) there are many here… .
• … the river folk live in these covered boats with their whole family most of the time… have a lazy and eay life, which is why they look well fed, too. As to color and shape they are like the Malays, only their language is quite different.
• … on both sides of the river, many beautiful an splendidly decorated pyramids, worked over with elegant sculpture. In front of these… three high poles, gilded carvings at top… shaped banners in the form of a crocodile or cayman in various colors… [meaning: the temple has found a sponsor for the annual kathin ceremony.]
• … many large and small villages, hamlets, and other settlements… lived none but various types of potters, cutters of firewood, most farmers… horses, cows, buffaloes, pigs… chickens and ducks… .
• … lived only boat-builders, … carpenters or those who had tree nurseries… made a living from the oil they derive from the coconut palm… village where only coffins were made… artfully made, elegantly carved and beautifully painted and gilded… not burned in these, but in the simple coffin that stands inside it.
• In the afternoon we arried in the Small Mosquito Passage… shortens route… not suited for large vessels because of its narrowness.
• There is a little fortress, white and square, at one of its entrance the fort has low walls and in our eyes is hardly defensible. As far as we could see there were neither soldiers nor guns to put into action. It had no buttresses or battlements. In short, it was built there as display rather than as deterrent… 14 leagues or half way to the town of Ayutthaya.
• … we went on land and inspected one of the temples built there… the figures sat cross-legged as tailors do, which is here the common manner of sitting among both the Moors and the heathens.
• … wrapped in a yellow cloth… distinguished from the rest of the population, since nobody else is allowed to wear yellow clothing. They are shorn like papish priests…
• … their golden betel box or bouset… along with the golden sword which the king had given to them as his vassals… .
• … at the end of… September the king makes the governors, presidents, receivers, and others who govern regions, provinces, manors, cities, towns, villages… appear before him at court and drink the water of the oat as a token of their allegiance… the director Mr. Westerwoldt had to do the same… .
• … permits no one to approach him other than by crawling like a dumb animal… nobody allowed to look him in the face unless he orders this expressly… on pain of decapitation.
• We finished the Small Mosquito Passage and entered the wide river again. The tree line gradually thinned, and in place of the coconut and areca palm trees many toddy trees now began to appear, along with some large open fields fit for grazing anmals, and some rice fields… .
• Near evening we passed a large place named Pakkret, some 10 leagues distant from Ayutthaya. It, too, had a good bazaar or market with boats… as in most villages there were a number of Chinese and their families… able to make a living anywhere—they certainly are a subtle, diligent and very industrious people.
• After sunset we entered the Large Mosquito Passage, another branch of the river, but fairly wide. On the right-hand side we passed a large and rather flat island occupied mostly by people who, originally from the river Pegu… had begun to move here [in the wake of the Burma-Siam wars].
• To grow rice one requires much space and open air… weeds cleared… small earthen wall…
• 8 September… In the morning… next to a small farming village. In front of the houses were square pens, made of bamboo, holding many animals, to protect them from the many wild beasts here… cows, oxen, buffalo, he- and she-goats… standing on fairly high platforms, next to or in front of the houses, that had been especially built for the purpose… many horses here… smallish… large number of poultry, geese and ducks, but no sheep… .
• The woods and forests are extremely full of wild animals, most notably elephants… but exporting their teeth or ivory out of the country is punishable by death… same goes for tin and saltpeter that is found here in fairly large quantities. Roebuck and deer… large numbers of… export to Japan and the Chinese… skins of species of ray much in demand in Japan… hilt of their swords and the like… .
• … many monkeys and baboons, often 20 to 30 of them sitting in a single tree… during the daytime they moved into the woods in order to feed… both sides of the river the land was mainly flat, with few trees but many stands of bamboo. There were houses almost all along the way… like pleasure cruise along the Vecht, the Eem… There were many people about, especially on the water; and we met whole fleets of boats as we proceeded. But the houses could not compete with those in the Netherlands. Even the best of them fall short of the simplest back home… plantations of sugarcane, watermelon, pumpkins, cucumber, etc. alongside the river… many toddy-palm trees… .
• Before midday, while we were still four leagues from the lodge… old and largely derelict temple… .
• Across the plain we now began to see some of the highest pyramids (standing in the city of Ayutthaya). Again we passed several temples on both sides among them some very beautiful ones with elegant pyramids, such as the two white temples, but especially the temple of the crown prince, much larger than any of the others, with several high and almost completely gilded pyramids… .
• From this point to the city houses crowded along the banks, particularly on the right hand side, which was so lively with people that it was as if one had entered a suburb in the Netherlands, the river remained evenly wide all along the way, and the farther up the river we went, the stronger the current got.
• … met a boat in which, accompanying a corpse to be burned, there sat a group of talapoins, friends of the deceased, making much noise on drums and other instruments. Temporarily they had the right of way because of the holy (in reality rather beastly) persons sitting in it, so that all vessels it encountered should strike sail… .
• Around the time of the midday meal… we entered the Dutch lodge… 28 leagues up river and not more than a musket shot below… Ayutthaya. It sits on the river bank directly opposite the Portuguese and Japanese quarters where the river is wide and flows fast… .
• In the front is a sturdy and excellent building, rather large and high, with airy lofts and spacious, proper warehouse space below [the dining hall and offices]. Two of its sides are white brick, with many doorframes and window casings, most of them trellised and barred. The walls are built entirely of brick and plastered with good lime. The woodwork—all teak—is smooth and very durable…like oak. On the front side there is a double stairway of almost 20 steps leading to the dining hall rising over a corridor that runs through the middle of the building; at the back of the dining hall there is a single stairway. There are several rooms on each side of this spacious dining hall… the director, deputy director, junior merchants, principal assistants, surgeon, steward, cook, trumpeter, sculptor, carpenters, two blacksmiths, ship’s personnel, bookbinder, baker, groom, etc… live here.
• … 10 to 12 horses of various colors, on which the gentlemen often go out riding during the dry season… somewhat small… .
• … all the way to the river was a strong, wide pier with railings and benches on both sides… barges and other vessels to moor alongside to load and unload… the whole main office and the brick buildings are all covered with Siamese tiles, but the stables and other bamboo houses only with atap.
• … some pomegranate, orange, and lime trees.
• Chao Sut… very useful to the Company staff in the trade with Siam. Over time she has become quite skilled in this, and at present she annually supplies all the wax and other trading goods to the Company… the king often confiscates the wealth acquired by individuals as soon as he is aware of it… this woman is well-informed about what happens at court and reports about it well and clearly… .
• … superabundance, they lived very luxuriously here, most of them keeping concubines and mistresses in order, as they say, to avoid common whores. They pay them maintenance for all their needs, and buy or build them a house, each according to his capacity. They argue that strictly speaking this practice is permissible because it is legal (in the manner of the Siamese), because they do not possess the virtue of abstinence, and because they are completely deprived of Dutch wives (their equals). They add to this the word of St. Paul that it is better to marry thus than having lived with whores to burn in the hereafter… they seldom refer to them other than as whore, trollop, slut, etc… as for the children, as long as the fathers remain here… but when they leave, the women demand an advance of a large sum of money from the Company on their account… .
• … a certain Thomas the Frenchman, a free burgher who lives not far from the lodge. He makes his living by tapping beer, arrack, and punch for the sailors and others in this area.
• The reason for the rapid departure of these men… from Nagasaki were the complaints lodged daily with the emperor (by the great of the realm) concerning the notable growth of the Roman Catholics due to the efforts of the Portuguese missionaries … in spite… sharply controlled and were forbidden to proselytize under penalty of death. They had charged that he (the emperor) should act or else risk losing whole regions and provinces (as a result of this growth). Therefore in the year 1638 the emperor had a sharp decree proclaimed everywhere ordering to persecute and slay these Christians. In particular, in the Bay of Arima (where an immense number of them had fled) they prided themselves (we are told) on killing some 22,000 of these new Christians… .
• All this shows how meek and submissive the Dutch must be there, different from any other region in the East, almost serving the devil in order to obtain worldly gains… .
• … many adhere to the Christian belief, preferring by the grace of God through Jesus Christ to lose their body rather than this holy gift by which alone salvation may be obtained… .
• … renown royal capital of Siam, named Ayutthaya. It lies on an island completely build up and surrounded with a very high thick wall on all sides, in which are also suitable battlements to run out guns, though at present they are without any… in addition there are proper abutments and buttresses, all built of brick. They have many gates on all sides in order to enter and leave, the city being so populous that there are people living at the foot of the wall on the water. Many fine, wide canals transverse the city, receiving their water from the surrounding river… convenient for the inhabitants. The water flows down here with incredible speed. Upon entering, we found a very large rambling city with narrow, winding streets running to and fro, although on account of the soft and marshy ground, the bricks with which they were paved were tilted on their sides, having been unevenly and carelessly laid… the common market or bazaar was a rectangular space, a wide, long street with shops on both sides were daily you could find almost anything for sale, up to and including objects made of silver and gold.
• Because at the time His Royal Majesty was in residence with a vast entourage of courtiers and their servants and other idlers following him, the marketers did not dare to ply their trade as at other times for they were likely to get many customers, most of them out of money… Neither did they dare to complain at all, for the gentlemen would put them in the wrong to boot.
• At the end of this street one enters the Street of Elephants, which coming from the side, runs straight to the king’s court. On both sides this street has nothing but elephant houses, brick-built and strong wooden stalks, named fa.
• … first account of a ritual chasing away of a contagious disease… .
• This is clearly demonstrating their blind eagerness and heathenish superstition. In this they have much in common with popery.
• …because His Majesty was in residence and hence no one, of whatever nation, can approach his court without license or permission, on pain of corporal punishment. However, whenever His Majesty left for Prabat or one of his other country estates, the Dutch could, having paid proper respect, enter the court in order to see part of it… .
• We also passed a fairly broad street almost wholly inhabited by Moors and Gujaratis. Every nation lives together… As you sail away from the city the Portuguese and Japanese live on the right hand side and [the Dutch] on the left. Similarly, there are many Malays and Chinese here, each living in their own area… .
• Each nation has its own clergy and priests, thus making use of the free exercise of religion. They baptize, marry, and celebrate mass without any restriction… in this situation they increase not a little, being like populated villages with their own special laws and customs. The Portuguese very frequently visit our lodge, and our people in return go to their quarter, almost as if they were allied friends, even though the contrary was evidenced by the incident at the mouth of the river.
• The Portuguese priests come and baptize the children begot by our people, and they marry them and drink with one another in all friendship, but it is a Machiavellian friendship… The Frenchman Thomas, free burgher from Batavia and now subject of this king, also stalks among our people… .
• … most elegant Siamese temples and pyramids… one for the kings and the other for the queens, built in a grand manner at no little cost, glittering with gold and gemstones like a gilded mountain. The larger one has a wide and blunt domelike tower, elegantly sculpted and girdled by gilded images [Wat Chaiwattanaram]… .
• … with their hands raised clasped together and their heads bowed (the call it wai). This looked very devout, but when we could not keep from laughing at this silliness, they laughed with us and took no offense… looked as beautiful and elegant a display as one is likely to find in all of papistry… .
• … cast of pure gold… fenced off with pointed irons… the ceilinged walls, pillars, and beams were all painted with artful foliage and gilded… king forbids export of gold… on pain of death…
• … we entered unhindered by anyone… talapoin, sitting in an almost square chair, was reading very devoutly in a subdued voice from a thick book made of narrow thatch leaves, with the audience… mainly of women and children, regularly responding. Many young and old talapoins sat on the floor behind his chair, with their legs crossed in the manner of tailors… provisions in copper basins… betel leaf, areca nuts, bananas, and other fruits… other edibles made and baked in different ways from rice and sugar in coconut oil… These edibles… bought in great quantities in front of the temple door… .
• They also had water to drink and, most filfthy of all, tobacco, for they cannot go long without it (due to the bad habit)… candles, fragrant flowers, herbs, garlands made from these, and some more knick-knacks to offer to the images. One of the young talapoins lifted the above mentioned book on his shoulders and took it home… small lighted lamps were hanging everywhere, especially in front of the images… candles, garlands, and flowers… also hanging there were craftily cut papers depicting elephants and other animals and birds… .
• … relates the shape and situation of a big god at Pra Sut… .
• Note once again… how these foolish heathens lie stunted in blindness and total darkness and how they burrow, seeking what cannot be found in this manner. How grateful we should be to our God who, through His beloved Son Jesus Christ, so graciously chose to enlighten us, because before [this gracious act] we were like them in all things, but now, God willing, often the contrary is clearly shown.
• … the goods we bought from Batavia… one or two chests with red cloth, two or three packs special assortment of ordered Siamese cloth, some bales of cinnamon stalks and other spices, as well as a massive gold scale model of a temple and some rare items for His Royal Majesty, the Praklang, and other important functionaries of this country… .
• Our cargo from inland trade… rice, large quantity of sappan wood, beams, knees, and other such timber, some wooden chests with benzoin and yellow wax; many pots with coconut oil, honey, and the like… much tin, guttagom, eagle-wood, lacquer, ambergris.
• In the silverware shops you find here very beautiful thinly beaten silver bowls (to be used… for presenting betel-leaf and areca-nut or something else)… elegantly and so light you could almost blow them away… = 1/8 regular real or one tael in weight. Such objects are made nowhere else in all the Indies.
• … urgent request via the Praklang that His Majesty kindly grant permission to proceed with the marriage… on the junior merchant Mr. Thomas de Vos to the eldest daughter of Chao Sut, named Maria van Vliet… The king was willing to allow the marriage on condition that she not be taken out of the country… Some… suggest that the mother, being a sly woman, bribed the Praklang… enabling her to keep her daughter here.
• 14 September… In the evening… drifted down with the current… In the morning we passed the two white temples… others… that antique one… before midday we arrived again in Bangkok, where we dropped anchor and stayed awhile…
• … to the market to buy rice, rice, fish, arrack, lard, and other provisions… because such things cannot be had further down river.
• The three Portuguese yachts, together with the flute… were lying near the shore, fastened with ropes. Their top masts had been taken off, the yardarms struck, and all the running rigging taken down… forced to remain throughout the coming northern monsoon… because the southerly monsoon was just about over, and without this southerly wind it is impossible to go up to Macao and other points north… .
• 16 September… Near the evening began pouring with rain, like most evenings, thunder and lightning most of the night.
• 17 September… Before midday we arrived at the Amsterdam warehouse. [So from Ayutthaya to Amsterdam takes almost three days: left 14 September (evening) and arrived 17 September (midday).]
• 18 September… In the morning… drifted down river with the falling tide… mouth of the river, we saw [at close range] two terribly large crocs or caymans as the fled. They had been basking in the sun on a bank… .
• … before dark… still one league from the ship… at night, after the tide had fallen…
• 22-23 September… several Siamese ships coming alongside with fish, chicken, olives, and refreshments… 20-30 oranges = double stiver = 4,5 or 6 coconuts… rain thunder, lightning at night but hardly any during the day.
• … sailed with the sloop to Bangkok to fetch water… .
• 6-10 October… the cowardly nature and fearfulness of the Siamese and how they consider the Dutch in their country… .
• 11 October… During the morning some 30 royal vessels passed by, including barges, junks, guraps (=shellfish)… 2-3 newly built yachts still lacking topmasts well equipped for war and full of manpower. They set course for Songkla… .
• 17 October… took the boat and sloop on board… prepared to set sail with the first favorable wind… .
• 18 October… In the morning we had good weather, but the wind was coming from directly ahead, and we could not depart. In the afternoon, having a strong northeast wind, we set sail.
***
• Siamese naval expeditions during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries sailed as far south as Singapore. During the first half of the seventeenth century the Kingdom of Siam launched four unsuccessful invasions of Patani before finally defeating this Malay Kingdom in 1784. Patani’s Malay population revolted in defiance of Siamese suzerainty in 1791, 1808, and 1831, but each time was militarily suppressed.
• While Patani was busy preparing for the royal marriage ceremonies [between the daughter of the Raja of Patani and the Johor raja’s son.]… in 1632 a Siam-Thai naval force led by the commander Okya Decho arrived intending to attack Patani for a second time.
• But before the [Siam] military force attacked Patani, the [Siam] Raja established contact with the Dutch Company which was based at Batavia (Jakarta), requesting assistance in his attack. The Dutch Company agreed to send two warships together with weapons to assist the [Siam], but when the [Siam] military force arrived at Patani the assistance promised by the Dutch Company had not been sent.
• Even so, the [Siam] commander was resolved to carry out the attack, and proceeded to order his forces to land on Patani’s beach. The Patani Malays under the leadership of the raja and her commanders united with all the people brought by the Yang di Pertuan Muda Johor to resist the attack of the [Siam]. The battle was carried out with great ferocity all along the beach. After several days of fighting the [Siam] army was still unable to enter the city [Bandar] of Patani because of the tremendous resistance of the Patani Malays. In particular the Patani Malays were well equipped with the weapons of war which Raja Biru previously had readied. In this battle the three large cannon were used and brought extremely gratifying results because with but a few shots hundreds of [Siam] soldiers were killed. The efforts of the [Siam] army to enter the city of Patani were completely frustrated.
• After several days of fighting, the [Siam] commander Okya Dech gave up his hope at defeating the Patani Malays. He saw that the [Siam] army was weakened in spirit because of the extremely heavy blows given by the weapons of war of the Patani Malays. He decided to order his forces to return to their ships. As soon as this retreat was completed the Siamese commander ordered his warships to sail back to Siam, humiliatingly disappointed because they had not succeeded in defeating the defenses of the Patani Malays.
• The Siamese made another unsuccessful attempt to invade in 1638. Their commander was the Japanese Yamada, who had been appointed viceroy of Ligor.
• Patani possesses two river mouths, that is Kuala Patani and Kuala Bekah. The city of Patani is called Kota Kedaya. The two rivers are now called respectively Kuala Ru or Kuala Tok Ugok and Kuala Sungai Patani.
• The populace of Patani at this time [~1638], counting males (not including females) aged 16 years to 60 years is 150,000. The inhabitants within the city of Patani are so numerous that this very large city is filled with a jumble of houses. Beginning at the gate of the royal citadel and continuing to the village there is no gap between the houses. If, for example, a cat were to walk on top of the houses’ rafters beginning at the lower end going to the other end it would be possible to proceed without needing to descend to the ground.
• Not long thereafter the son of the Raja of Johor (husband of Raja Kuning) fell in love with a young woman of great beauty, that is one of the “retainers’ of the Raja in Patani. From then on Raja Kuning wore a golden chastity belt. Footnote: In the history of Patani it is stated that Raja Kuning kept dancing girls in the palace. One of these was named Dang, who was very clever with love charms. It issaid that she kept a talisman [cemara babi]. Her voice was very gentle and her dancing very good. Because of this, Her Majesty Raja Kuning’s husband made her his mistress.
• After Her Majesty Raja Kuning had occupied the throne of the Kingdom of Patani for some time the matter of the dispute with her husband became worse. Finally he was forced to depart and return to Johor together with his people. This left Her Majesty Raja Kuning to govern Patani in a condition of peace and security until she passed away (sometime after 1686).
***
Notes from Description of the Kingdom of Siam 1690, Engelbert Kaempfer
• … coasting for some time the walls of the City, and then turning towards the Berklam’s House, where he gives publick audience, and appears with all his pomp and splendor. We went ashore on this side of his House, and walk’d the remaining part of the way thither. The Court was dirty and nasty enough, but however in somewhat better condition than that of his other House, where we had a private audience of him some Days before. Entring the Court we took notice to the left of an open House, or Room, almost square, without walls, the floor of which were cover’d with boards and full of people, some sitting, some walking and conversing together. A large Elephant compleatly harnass’d stood in the Stable to the right. Opposite to the entry was a stony staircase, leading to the Berklam’s House, where we were to have our audience. We went up the same and then pull’d off our Shoes. This House hath but one single Room, or rather lofty Hall, like a Church. It is white within and full of Dust and Cobwebs. Seven square pillars each side, supported the cieling, which was rais’d under the third roof, and neatly enough painted with red branch’d work. About the middle of each pillar hung a large plate of chinese Copper. In the wall between the pillars were long openings with shutters instead of windows. There were two entries into the Hall, with a window between them; Poles of Bambous wer fix’d to the pillars on each side of the Hall hung with white Cloth, behind which, between the pillars and the wall, were the Berklam’s servants and domesticks, without any order, some sitting, some lying on the ground. Before sate the Mandarins, as Oja Tewejaata, a Mohametan, set over the Querry of the King’s Elephants, next to the Berklam on his right, Oja Pipat, Deputy Berklam to his left, both with golden Boesets before them. Boesets are cubicle boxes made of Pinang, and marks of the King’s favour, which he presents his Mandarins with, when he gives them their names, and raises them to that dignity, which is never done without having first ask’d advice of his Astrologers. Below these sate several other Siamish, Chinese, and Mahometan Mandarins. I counted twenty three to the Berklam’s right, and one and twenty to his left. Seven of the chief on each side sitting uppermost, had golden, and two others which sate next them silver Boesets standing before them. The Letters, with the purses, bason and other ornaments, were plac’d before the Berklam about four or five paces from him. We sate in the middle between the two rows of Mandarins, a Pinang bason with Betel and Pinang minc’d, and Jasmin and other flowers laid around the borders for ornaments sake, was set before each of us. The Berklam, as representing the person of the King sate in a particular enclos’d apartment, at the upper end of the Hall, behind an embroider’d Carpet laid over a pole of Bambous and rais’d about two or three foot above the ground, shewing only the upper part of his Body. Two gilt Umbrello’s were plac’d before him, one at each side. Behind him were two gold Daggers, laid upon as many cushions, and a state Scimeter as above describ’d stood at each side. Two European pictures hung behind him on the wall encompass’d with branch’d work, instead of frames, after the Country fashion. Having all seated our selves, the Berklam ask’d Mynheer van Hoorn by the Interpreter, how the General of our East India Company did, how long he had been in the Indies, what Troops we had now at Batavia and at Bantam, which of the two was the better Country, as also who we, the Captain and I were? These and some other questions being severally answer’d, the purses containing the Letters were open’d, and the Letters having pass’d through the hands of several of the Mandarins then present, read aloud. The Interpreter not understanding some of the Malayan expressions, Mr. Moses and Daniel were desir’d to help him out. The audience having lasted about three quarters of an hour, we were conducted by the Berklam’s Son, who till then had been behind his Father, through his other House to our prows, and from thence to dinner, which stood prepar’d for us.
• Nothing else remarkable happen’d during our stay at Siam, except, that towards the later end of this month an order from the King was made publick, forbidding his Subjects to wash themselves in the River. I saw afterwards several Siamites washing themselves in their boats with River-water, it being impossible for this Nation to live without Water. The reason for this order was, because several people had been bit of late by a venomous Snake, or Lizard, and died a few hours after. I was told that these Snakes do not exceed a finger length, and a Leech in bigness, that they are checker’d with brown and blue, and that they infest the River but once in eight or ten years. To oblige the people to a strict compliance with this order, it was order’d at the same time, that the Relations or Heirs of every Person that should die of the bite of this venomous Creature, should pay a fine of fifteen Thails.
***
Notes from Court, Company, and Campong, Dhiravat na Pembejra
Daniel Brochebourde at the Court of King Narai
• In 1672 Daniel Brochebourde, a native of Sedan (in northeastern France) and a surgeon in the service of the VOC, was loaned to the Siamese court, with Batavia’s approval, to serve as the king’s surgeon. Daniel had been stationed since 1659 at the VOC’s office in Ligor (Nakhon Sithammarat), in the southern part of the Ayutthaya kingdom. This opperchirugijn had married a local woman while at Ligor, and then moved to Ayutthaya some time before 1669. By this time he would have been fluent in Thai.
• Medicine cannot merit the name of Science amongst the Siamese… Their chief ignorance is to know nothing in Chyrurgery, and to stand in need of the Europeans, not only for Trapans, and for the other difficult Operations of Chyrurgery, but for simple Blood-lettings. They are utterly ignorant of Anatomy… and also of new knowledge such as that concerning the circulation of the blood. Even allowing for La Loubère’s underestimation of traditional Siamese medicine, it seems clear that surgery in Siam was a monopoly of the westerners. King Narai, with his keen interest in all things western, was naturally eager to employ the services of a European surgeon.
• Daniel Brochebourde’s abilities as a surgeon attracted the attention of King Narai’s court when he managed to cure some of the king’s men, whereupon the Siamese asked that he remain in Siam as the king’s doctor. One reason given for Daniel’s being the court’s choice was his fluency in spoken Thai, a vital asset to have when working in Ayutthaya. According to a French document Daniel was also known as “moculuan” (probably “mo khaluang,” meaning the king’s or royal doctor).
• Daniel Brochebourde’s combined medical and linguistic abilities made him useful both to the Dutch in Ayutthaya and to the Siamese court. The VOC opperhoofd in Siam Aarnout Faa used Daniel as a translator in some of his dealings with King Narai’s treasury officials. This was despite the fact that the VOC already had full-time translators. Daniel indeed retained his VOC monthly salary of 34 guilders throughout his 25 years’ service at the court of Ayutthaya, a career which lasted until his death in 1697. Daniel seems to have a prominent part in the court of King Narai, especially in connection with the women of the Palace. He was granted access to the only daughter of King Narai, Princess Yothathep. The French merchant Véret accused himj (and the Dutch in general) of having intrigued against the interests of France, leading to this princess’ anti-French behavior, exemplified by her refusal to accept Madame la Dauphine’s presents in 1687-8.
• A further anecdote, as told by the French Jesuit Father de Bèze (who must have heard it from somebody else since the events recounted occurred before he came to Siam), reveals Daniel’s role in a court scandal. A sister of Okpra Petracha—the official who was to usurp the throne in 1688—was one of King Narai’s consorts. Her sexual appetites, however, were those of a Messalina. According to de Bèze,
This wretch was notorious for her excesses; everyone was privy to them save only the King, but such as the place in his mind which she had usurped that her power in the Palace had become well nigh supreme. The sole impediment to her bruthish lust was the strict supervision to which ladies in the Palace are subject; yet her credit with the King stood so high that at times she obtained exit, to the end that a wound in her leg might be dressed by a Dutch surgeon named Daniel who abetted her by keeping open this wound which she herself had caused, his pretext being that it was a dangerous wound, as he assured the King… But she meanwhile was making full use of the liberty she had thus acquired. Her habit was to make for the Portuguese Camp which sheltered certain participants of her favors well out of range of her countrymen’s inquisitive eyes. So little circumspection did she practice there that her conduct became a byword and was even pilloried in ribald snatches of song, a license unusual among the Siamese.
• … all the Europeans in Louvo (including two VOC men) were put in prison by the usurper. The only exception was “our Mr. Daniel” who that very same day appealed successfully to Okpra Petracha for the release of the two VOC employees. Daniel Brochebourde was therefore on good terms with Okpra Petracha, and had ready access to him. … Daniel was used by Okpra Petracha as a messenger in the latter’s communications with the VOC during the 1688 crisis. For example, on 27 June 1688 (only a fortnight before King Narai’s death) Daniel came from Louvo to the VOC settlement at Ayutthaya with an order from Okpra Petracha to nofify Keijts that arrangements had been made for the French to leave Siam, but that they (the French) must first go up to see him in Louvo. If they refused to dosohe would order an all-out attack on Bangkok. The VOC thanked the okpra for this information and counseled “prudence and mercy.”
• But a French document of 1691, a “declaration” by Jean Rival—formerly King Narai’s governor in Bangkhli and Takuatung—tells of a conspiracy involving Daniel. Rival claims that an “Ocounrot” (a native of Ligor) told him on 18 July 1688 about a plot to kill King Narai and to massacre all Frenchmen in Siam. According to this “Ocounrot,” Okpra Petracha, his son Okluang Sorasak, the VOC opperhoofd Joannes Keijts, Daniel Brochebourde, and an Okmun “Cymoun chaya” met at Okpra Petracha’s house in Louvo, where they agreed on a plan by which Daniel was to prepare a “slow poison” to be administered to the king by “Cymoun chaya.” According to “Ocounrot” this whole idea was thought up by Keijts. A further part of the plan was that all medicines sent from Phaulkon to the king would be prevented from reaching the royal bedchamber. This would thus ensure the success of Daniel’s poison.
• Véret, the chief agent of the French East India Company in Siam, wrote to the former French Envoy Extraordinary to Siam Claude Cébéret in early 1689 claiming that Okpra Petracha “had helped a bit to make the King of Siam die, as far as one can tell” and that he was aided by “his dear advisers the Dutch,”… What seems particularly noteworthy in the way Daniel Brochebourde fits in and out of the picture, both as a surgeon to the Siamese court and as a possible ally of Okpra Petracha. Daniel must have been a deft courtier, adept at intrigue and acutely aware of the direction in which the political wind was blowing.
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