298 HOMEWARD BOUND book iii
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their proceedings throughout the world. The General replied to this
that I need not trouble myself, and that I might be cheerful during the
voyage, as the order which he had promised me would be in Holland as
soon as myself, and that I should have no cause to complain of them.
Though but ill satisfied with the General, I took leave of him, and did
not await the remainder of the comedy, being anxious, amongst other
things, to prepare for my departure.
CHAPTER XXVII
The Author embarks on a Dutch Vessel in order to return to Europe.
Next day,
at a very early hour, I took a small Chinese boat to go on board,
where, on my arrival, I found one of the General's bodyguards, who came
to convey to me once more his good wishes for my voyage, and to tell me
that Madame la Generale begged me to accept a cask of Rhine wine, and
some pots of fruits preserved in vinegar, which she sent me. There were
cucumbers, mangoes, citrons, and eggs in their shells, which prevents
them from becoming salt. I had taken no provisions with me, because
some days before our departure the captain of the vessel told me that
if I brought any they would not be received on board, as it was
forbidden by the General. It is the custom that the General gives 200
ecus to each captain of a vessel to furnish himself with all kinds of
stores, and as I embarked by his advice on the Vice-Admiral, he caused
double the sum to be given to the captain on my account, in order to
have the honour to cause no expenditure to a stranger to whom he had
offered a passage. Madame la Generale, when sending this present,
bethought herself, possibly, of that which I had done some days
previously for her daughter. Some friends seeing that I had easy access
to the principal ladies of Batavia, begged me to intercede for a young
man, a native of Paris, who in consequence of dissipation had come out
to India as a soldier, and was in danger of the surgeons cutting off
his leg, where he had an ulcer. To accomplish it I made a present to the
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