Japan and the Japanese

SECOND DUTCH VOYAGE THITHER.
a little annoyed at the non-appearance of any Dutch vessels at
Firando during the year 1610. The Dutch in the East Indies had,
indeed, at this moment other things to attend to. Verhoeven, after
his return to the Moluccas, had been entrapped and treacherously
slain at Banda, by the natives of that island, along with many of
his principal officers. This, however, did not prevent the Dutch
from soon after making a treaty with these islanders, by which they
obtained the sole right of purchasing their nutmegs and mace, and
which they followed up by the establishment of not less than seven
forts in the Molucca Islands, and by vigorous, though as yet unsuc-
cessful attempts to drive away the Spaniards who had come to the
aid of the Portuguese.
The Moluccas thus occupied, Admiral "Wittert, who had suc-
ceeded to the command of the Dutch fleet, sailed with part of the
for though the truce between Spain and Holland
ships for Manilla ;
was known, it had not been proclaimed in the East Indies, and was
not regarded by either party. Here, unfortunately, Wittert suffered
himself to be surprised by a much superior Spanish force, and though
he fought with the greatest courage till he fell, his own ship and
two others were taken, and another blown up, two only making
their escape.
Immediately upon the arrival of the Red Lion in Holland, a
number of ships had been fitted out for Japan ; but the first to
arrive was a small yacht, called the Brach, in July, 1611, with only
a trifling cargo of cloths, silks, pepper, ivory and lead. Presently
a government officer came on board to demand a manifest of the
cargo to be sent to the emperor ;
but this the Dutch did not like to
submit to, as the Portuguese were free from it, and especially as
the
present cargo was so
trifling. These demands being renewed,
finally, though somewhat perplexed by the small means they had of
making presents, they resolved upon a new mission to the emperor's
court. The king of Firando advised them also to extend their visit
to the hereditary prince at Jedo, and not to omit paying their
respects to Fide Jori, at Osaka, son of the late emperor, and who
might yet mount the throne. The king of Firando furnished a gal'
ley, in addition to one belonging to the factories, and two commis-
sioners, of whom the principal was Jacob Spex, set out for Seruga,