Page 353
An.1686
Raja Laut invites them ashore.
build a Fort, we could have spared 8 or 10 Guns out of our Ship, and Men enough to have ma- naged it, and any affair of Trade beside. We had also a great advantage above raw Men that are sent out of England into these places, who proceed usu- ally too cautiously, coldly and formerly, to compass any considerable design, which Experience better teaches than any Rules whatsoever; besides the danger of their Lives in so great and sudden a a change of Air: whereas we were all inured to hot Climates, hardned by many fatigues, and in general daring Men, and such as would not be eafily baffled. To add one thing more, our Men were almost tired, and began to desire a quietus est; and therefore they would gladly have seated them- selves any where. We had a good Ship too, and enough of us (beside what might have been spared to manage our new Settlement) to bring the News with the effects to the Owners in England: for Captain Swan had already 5000 l. in Gold, which he and his Merchants received for goods sold most- ly to Captain Harris and his men: which if he had laid but part of it out in Spice, as probably he might have done, would have satisfy'd the Merchants to their hearts content. So much by way of di- gression.
To proceed therefore with our first Reception at Mindanao, Raja Laut and his Nephew sat still in their Canoa, and would not come aboard us; because, as they said, they had no orders for it from the Sultan. After about half an hours discourse, they took their leaves; first inviting Captain Swan alhore; and promising him to assist him in getting provision; which they said at present was scarce, but in 3 or 4 months time the Rice would be gathered in, and then he might have as much as he pleased: and that in the mean time he might secure his Ship in some convenient place, for fear of the Westerly winds,