Mahomet Achmet was given directions
to see that this work was promptly carried out, after which we bowed
ourselves from the king's presence, I being well satisfied with the
bargain I had made.
Next day the work of repairing the ship began. She was careened in the
shallows of a safe and convenient harbour, and such an army of workers
set to work upon her that in the course of a week the "Golden Seahorse"
was once more ready for sea.
While the repairs to our vessel were in progress we received welcome
assistance from the crews of the English and Dutch ships in the
harbour, with whom we soon became acquainted. The Dutch vessel
"Speedwell" belonged to the Dutch East India Company, a company which,
at this time, was growing in wealth and importance. She was bound on a
voyage to the North for a cargo of furs, and Captain Smuts, in command
of her, was anxious that we should join him in this expedition, for,
said he, two ships will more readily succeed than one, since each may
help the other. But we not being equipped for northern travel decided
to continue our voyage south, though we arranged with Captain Smuts to
meet him later at the Molucca Islands, where we had resolved to call
King Thedori to account for his treacherous conduct toward us on our
former visit.
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