Page 214 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat
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214 EARLY ENGLISH ADVENTURERS IN THE EAST
Leytimor, in such a position that it looks out upon the
coast of the second and larger section designated Hitoe.
Its main feature is a strong fortification called Fort Vic
toria, with solid masonry ramparts and bastions, and
based on one side by the sea. In this castle, as it was
termed, was in the early seventeenth century the Gover
nor’s residence and the principal headquarter establish
ments of the Government with a considerable garrison of
Dutch troops. So enormous was the strength of the
position that it could have been held almost independently
even without the support of the shipping that was nearly
always in the roads against any enemy that could be
brought against it.
The actual tragedy of Amboina opened with dramatic
fitness with a very simple scene. One evening as the
garrison were at prayers a Japanese mercenary in the
employ of the Dutch, wandering apparently aimlessly
about the castle, on the ramparts came upon a young
Dutch soldier acting as sentinel. Accosting him he asked
how many soldiers there were in the garrison and how
often the guards were relieved. There was nothing very
extraordinary about the questions, the answers to which
presumably could have been supplied by a little observa
tion. But the Japanese had the previous evening made
precisely the same inquiries; and, moreover, he had
passed on to a portion of the fortifications which was
forbidden ground to him as a private soldier. What,
perhaps, was worse than these indiscretions was that he
and his countrymen had for some time past fraternized
overmuch with the Englishmen. Suspicion, consequently,
fastened so strongly upon him that orders were given for
his arrest.