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chap, xxiii A STAY AT BATAVIA 277
any
reasons which I could give for the purpose of escaping from a
commission which I was not able to execute, the King wished positively
that I should take the dagger with me to Batavia. I represented to him
then that as I was a stranger he risked much, and that I might go off
with the dagger without returning it, but he said to me smiling that he
feared nothing on that account, and that he well knew that Frenchmen
were incapable of so disgraceful an action. At length, unable to excuse
myself further, I took charge of the dagger, and having taken leave of
the King, my brother and I went to bid farewell to the English
President, and to thank him for the civilities we had received from him.
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CHAPTER XXIV
The
Author returns to Batavia, and some days afterwards goes again to visit
the King of Bantam, giving an account, in connexion therewith, of the
dangerous extravagances of some Fakirs, or pilgrims, on their return
from Mecca.
My brother
and I, after supper this evening with the English President, went on
board a barque between 11 o'clock and midnight, for the land-wind that
we required generally blows at night, and on the following day between
10 and 11 o'clock in the morning we arrived at Batavia.1 I
remained there twenty days, merely to make the King of Bantam believe
that I had not misrepresented the matter, and that during that time I
had been looking for what it was impossible to find. As I had nothing
to do, these twenty days appeared very long to me ; for at Batavia
there is scarcely any other amusement but gambling, and all the gain
goes in drink ; this did not suit me. During the day, on account of the
great heat, one cannot even think of taking exercise, which can only be
done towards the cool of the evening, and it is moreover necessary to
make it very short, because as soon as the sun sets they close the
gates, unless the General or Madame or some of the Councillors of India
are outside the
1 See Voyage of Frangois Leguat, Hakluyt Society, i. 220 ff.
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