On the evening of 16 June 1504, the British ship called Swallow, commanded by Captain Carteret, was spotted near the harbor of Bonthain. The ship anchored in the bay the next morning at dawn. The ship was in terrible condition and lacked basic supplies, water, and firewood. The crew's situation was especially dire - of the original 79 crew members who had left England, only 40 to 50 remained healthy after their lengthy 16-month journey. The rest had fallen ill. Captain Carteret reported to local officials Sergius Swellen (a merchant and resident) and military officer Alexander Leter that it was impossible to continue the journey with so few healthy crew members. He feared that upcoming northwestern storms could lead to the loss of both ship and crew, so he urgently requested permission to dock.
National Archives / Archives South Holland, archive number 1.04.02, Inventaris van het archief van de Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC), 1602-1795 (1811), inventory number 3218, Heren Zeventien en kamer Amsterdam, INGEKOMEN STUKKEN UIT INDIË, Overgekomen brieven en papieren, Overgekomen brieven en papieren uit Indië aan de Heren XVII en de kamer Amsterdam, Overgekomen brieven en papieren uit Indië aan de Heren XVII en de kamer Amsterdam, 1769. Derde boek: Batavia, derde deel
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