Page 370
An.1687
Raja Laut's uneasiness to Capt. Swan.
Swan had a considerable quantity of Gold in his possession, which the General thought was his own, but indeed had none but what belonged to the Merchants. However he lent it the General, but when he came to an account with Captain Swan, he told him, that is was usual at such so- lemn times to make Presents, and that he received it as a Gift. He also demanded payment for the Victuals that our Captain and his Men did eat at his house. These things startled Captain Swan, yet how to help himself he knew not. But all this, with other inward troubles lay hard on our Captains spirits, and put him very much out of humour ; for his own Company also were pressing him every day to be gone, because now was the heighth of the Easterly Monsoon, the only Wind to carry us farther into the Indies.
About this time some of our men, who were weary and tired with wandring, ran away into the Country and absconded, they being assisted, as was generally believed, by Raja Laut. There were others also, who fearing we should not go to an English Port, bought a Canoa, and designed to go in her to Borneo : For not long before a Mindanao Vessel came from thence, and brought a Letter di- rected to the chief of the English Factory at, Min- danao. This Letter the General would have, Cap- tain Swan have opened, but he thought it might come from some of the East India Merchants, whose Affairs he would not intermeddle with, and there- fore did not open. it. I since met with Captain Bowry at Achin, and telling him this story, he said that he sent that Letter, supposing that the En- glish were settled there at Mindanao, and by this Letter we also thought that there was an English Factory at Borneo: so here was a mistake on both sides. But this Canoa wherewith some of them thought to go to Borneo, Captain Swan took from them,