We anchored in the road of Acheen on the 12th April, 1613, where we were kindly received by the king.  On the 2d of May, all the strangers then at Acheen were invited to a banquet at a place six miles from the town, and on this occasion two elephants were sent for our general.  To this place all the dishes were brought by water by boys, who swam with one hand, while each carried a dish in—­the other; and the drink was brought in the same manner.  When the guests had satisfied themselves with tasting any of the dishes, which indeed they must of all, the remainder was thrown into the river.  In this feast there were at least 500 dishes served, all well dressed.  It continued from one o’clock till five; but our general, who was wearied with sitting so long in the water beside the king, was dismissed an hour before the other guests.  The captain or chief merchant of the Dutch factory, either by taking too much strong drink, or from sitting too long in the cold water, caught an illness of which he died soon after.

The 2d June we were entertained by a fight of four elephants with a wild tyger, which was tied to a stake; yet did he fasten on the legs and trunks of the elephants, making them to roar and bleed extremely.  This day, as we were told, one eye of a nobleman was plucked out by command of the king, for having looked at one of the king’s women, while bathing in the river.  Another gentleman, wearing a sash, had his head cut round, because it was too large.  Some he is said to throw into boiling oil, some to be sawn in pieces, others to have their legs cut off, or spitted alive, or empaled on stakes.  The 25th of June, the king of Acheen sent our general a letter for the king of England, most beautifully written and painted, of which the following is a translation of the preamble.[94]

[Footnote 94:  Being merely complimentary, it has not been deemed necessary to give any more of this letter than the hyperbolical titles assumed by the petty Mallay rajah.—­E.]

PEDUCKA SIRIE, Sultan, King of kings renowned in war, sole king of Sumatra, more famous than his ancestors, feared in his dominions, and honoured in all the neighbouring countries.  In whom is the true image of a king, reigning by the true rules of government, formed as it were of the most pure metal, and adorned by the must splendid colours.  Whose seat is most high and complete; whence floweth, as a river of fine crystal, the pure and undefiled stream of bounty and justice.  Whose presence is like the most pure gold:  King of Priaman, and of the mountain of gold:  Lord of nine sorts of precious stones:  King of two Umbrellas of beaten gold; who sitteth upon golden carpets; the furniture of whose horses, and his own armour, are of pure gold; the teeth of his elephants being likewise of gold, and every thing belonging to them.  His lances half gold half silver; his small shot of the same; a saddle also for an elephant of the same; a tent of silver; and all his seals half gold half silver.  His bathing-vessels of pure gold; his sepulchre also entire gold, those of his predecessors being only half gold half silver.  All the services of his table of pure gold; &c.