chap, xxvii EXAMINATION OF PASSENGERS 299
General's
daughter, in order that she might ask the Major and the Avocat Fiscal
not to appear to see this young man when he was leaving.
We
were still three days in the roads before setting sail. On the first
day the principal merchant of the fort, who kept a record of all the
goods which had been embarked, both for Holland and other places, came
to the vessel according to custom to examine the bill of Jading, and
have it read over by the captain of the vessel and the merchants who
came with him, whom he made sign it. This bill of lading was placed in
the box where they shut up all the account books and records of all
that had passed in the factories of India, both concerning trade and as
regards civil and criminal justice, and the covering over all the goods
was then sealed.
On
the second day the Major with the Avocat Fiscal and the chief surgeon
also came, according to custom, to examine all those who were in the
vessel returning to Holland—the Major to see whether there were any
soldiers who were going without leave, for everyone must have his
passport with him ; the Avocat Fiscal to ascertain if any of the
writers were concealed who wished to escape before their term was
finished. The Chief Surgeon of the fort comes to see that all the sick
persons who are being sent home have ailments which are incurable in
the country, because some soldiers may obtain leave from the Major by
the influence of friends, as he did, whom as I have said, I carried off
; for the surgeon is obliged by oath not to allow anyone to go unless
he conÂsiders that he cannot be cured but by going to Europe. The Major
is bound to give the roll of all the soldiers, both of those who are
well and those who are ill, to the Avocat Fiscal, who makes them come
on the vessel one after the other ; and it is then that the sick men
are examined by the surgeon. It was perhaps not impossible that he whom
I took might have been healed of his illness in the country ; but by
the favour of the Fiscal he was not called with the others, and escaped
in that way.
On
the third day the principal persons of the town and many ladies came to
bid adieu to their friends who were leaving, and brought with them wine
and food to entertain
