chap, xxviii A FEAST AT ST. HELENA 313
rocks, where we saw the male and female goats leaping from one side to the other.
On
the following day, between 9 and 10 a.m., he had the pleasure of seeing
all the guests in their boats, some with trumpets and drums, others
with violins and other musical instruments ; this could not have been
if the "Vice-Admiral had given his entertainment in the vessel, where
all these different classes of people could not have come. As the
feast, then, was on land, the majority of the ladies, both English and
Dutch, who were in the fleet also came, without being invited ; and so
instead of one table three were required, and those who expected to eat
in the tent, under shade, were obliged to yield their places out of
politeness to the ladies. During the repast there was a great noise of
trumpets and other musical instruments, and at each health all the guns
of the vessels fired a discharge. The first health which was drunk was
that of the King of England, after which followed those of the States
General, of the Prince of Orange, and of the Companies, and then came
the healths of the chief officers of the fleet and of some private
persons. At the close of the repast, when we were ready to return on
board, a disaster happened which somewhat marred the enjoyment of the
company. The Admiral's trumpeter, having drunk a little more than he
ought to have done, mounted on a high rock in order to blow his
trumpet, and from time to time he rolled down large stones. Although
ordered to stop, because it was seen that some injury might happen, he
did not cease, however, finding some amusement in it; and at length he
let go a very large one, which, jumping from rock to rock, went through
the tent, where it broke a case of wine and killed a small boy born at
Batavia of Dutch parentage. He was being sent to Holland to learn the
language properly, and to be taught to read and write. For these
children, though born of parents who have come from Holland, never
learn Dutch properly while they remain at Batavia, being brought up
among servants and slaves, who use the PortuÂguese language more than
Dutch. These children also learn from them a thousand wickednesses, and
at the age of nine years they know more lechery than do youths of twenty
