[Travel Tales of the West/Shiba Kōkan] (11) Nagasaki, Dutch Ships, Swartjong, Matroos

Ships from China, Holland, and other provinces dock in Japan. In ancient times, they docked at Ōminato in Ise Province, and later at Sakai in Izumi Province, and then moved to Hakata in Chikuzen. They crossed the sea to Hirado in Hizen Province, and in the year of the Kan'ei Shinmi, it became the current Nagasaki. Now, there are two residences for the Opperhoofd (Opperhoofd is the name passed down in Japan; in their country, it is called 'Opperhoofd', which is a word meaning head of the factory) on Dejima. One place is accessed by a ladder from the outside. On the second floor, in a room about 4 or 5 ken square, several dozen glass-framed pictures are hung below the transom. The paintings, such as figures, landscapes, and birds and flowers, are exquisite and look as if they are moving. I also heard that there are many chairs lined up and various decorations.

The Dutch. It is said that the distance from Nagasaki, Japan, to their home country is 13,000 Japanese ri. When measured in a straight line, it is no more than 2,400 or 2,500 ri. This country is located to the west of Japan and is closer to the north. Therefore, there are many cold months and they do not grow rice. They eat bread (made from wheat) or beef. For this reason, they sail their ships to various countries in India and make trade their primary national duty.

Kuronbō (Black slave). In their language, they are called 'Swartjong'. They are people from Jakarta (Jakarta is a country directly under the equator, so it is a very hot country). They come as servants to the Dutch. Their skin color, while not completely pitch black, looks as if it has been painted with black spots. There are also those who are not black. In the summer months, they are naked and wear something like a kesa (stole). It is a red Bengal stripe. In the winter months, they are given clothes by the Dutch. These are like the clothes of the Red-Haired (Dutch). They are made of wool and chintz. They have a cloth on their heads. What is known in the world as 'Kuronbō sarasa' (black slave chintz) is this.

There is something called a 'Matroos'. This refers to the sailors on the ship. They do the work on the ship (those who are good at swimming are not the Kuronbō, but these Matroos). These people are from the Dutch mainland, and their language is also Dutch. Their complexion is white, their hair is brown, and the pupils of their eyes are red. Those who are 15 or 16 years old have their hair cut and wear clothes like the Dutch. These Matroos climb the masts, and their bodies are as light as birds.

Dutch ships are 40 ken in size, and a lion is carved on the front. Everything is painted with pitch and is black. The stern is built like a house and goes inward. All have glass shoji screens, with awnings stretched in front, and globes and celestial spheres placed there. In the middle, there is a wheel to turn the rudder. Water jars are placed on its left and right. Masts are erected in three places. You enter from below using a ladder. There are 25 cannons on the left and right. They fire one each morning and evening. Sometimes they fire 12 or 13. This is done for celebrations, and it is the custom of that country (the idea that they fire them to move the ship is a sloppy story from the people of Nagasaki). Also, when they are out on the ocean, they may fire them for defense. Mostly, it is to disperse impurities, like purifying with fire in this country. The sound echoes through the mountains like a thunderclap.

Illustration of a Dutch ship. Illustration of loading cargo while anchored at Takasaki on the sea, one ri from the large harbor. Windlass: Called 'sebi' in Nagasaki. Called 'katrol' in Dutch. Anchor. As shown in the illustration. I wish Japanese anchors were made like this too.

Cargo is loaded in the bottom of the ship, and the stove is also below, with a place to let out smoke above. You enter below that, and there is a place to store gunpowder. I wonder if the whole ship is painted with pitch. Those who do that work shorten their lives. Also, the lamps go out and fires do not start. This is because the air does not circulate. Therefore, they made a tool called a 'ventilator' to circulate the air. This is the difference between the crudeness of Chinese ships and the refinement of Dutch ships.

Illustration of a vent
|Gunpowder|Guard|A device for retrieving items that have sunk to the seabed. This also uses a vent to allow air to pass through.