chap, xxi DRINKING CUSTOMS 253
and
very fine linen. Behind the carriage there marched a company of
infantry, besides another which went an hour or two in advance to clear
the way. When the councillors go abroad, as well as when they are at
home, they have each two musketeers for their guard, and when they wish
for horses the General's equerry sends them what they require. They
have also their small boats to row about on the sea, the river, or on
the canals, where each of them has his garden. Our promenade was not
long, because when we left the fort two vessels were seen approaching,
but no one was able to say what they were. As the General and
councillors were impatient to hear the news, they returned to the fort
sooner than they had intended ; and as soon as we arrived I took leave
of the General, the councillors, and the ladies, and withdrew to my
lodging.
For
three or four days I received numerous visits, which caused me no small
expenditure, because custom requires that when any visitor comes you
offer him wine. One hundred ecus are soon spent; for a pint of wine, of
about Paris measure, holds only four glasses. Spanish wine when cheap
costs an ecu at Batavia, Rhine and French wine cost two, and one must
pay 40 sols for a pint of beer, whether English or of Broncevimont.1
The
people of Batavia are greatly delighted when vessels come from Holland,
for they bring all kinds of drinks, which the publicans buy from the
Company, and every private person also may buy them. But whether they
find more pleasure in drinking at public-houses than in their own
houses, or that it is more convenient to them, when they wish to amuse
themselves in company, they generally make all their rejoicings in
these places. It is a time of great festival when these new drinks
arrive, and you meet women and girls in the streets who wager you for a
pint or two of wine or beer. Whether one loses or gains, it is a point
of honour never to allow the women to pay, and others come also, whose
healths you have to drink. This often empties the purses of young
people.
' These prices in English money were, for Spanish wine, is. 6rf.
; for Rhine and French wine, 9«.; and for a pint of beer, 3s. Mr. E.
Heawood, librarian of the Royal Geographical Society, has kindly traced
the word ' Broncevimont'. It is Tavernier's way of writing Brunswick
Mum, or beer.
