Page 204 - Loss of the VOC Retourschip Batavia, Western Australia, 1629
P. 204

     Red coral beads
A IOtaI of 46red coral beads were recovered from the site. These items were acorn man ttade item in the 17th century;
for example, in the Eysch for 1653,4000 pont of red coral was ordered for the Indies (Green, 1977). However, the beads have various diameters which when arranged in order, make quite a reasonably proportioned necklace (Fig. 51). Red coral necklaces were used as a talisman to protect the wearer against evil and, particularly, 10 ward off the incursion of demonic forces (Schama, 1987).
22
20
E 18 E
=
16 ~"
L
"E '6
10
14 ..
." ..
12
"
10
: nIII
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Be~d number
Figure 51. A bar chart showing the distribution of the bead diameter in mm for 46 red coral beads.
Amber beads
About seventeen amber beads were recovered, in varying sizes, shapes and colours. All beads were observed to
accumulate electrostatic charge and they have been identified as amber. Like coral, amber was imported to the Indies in large quantities. Between 1634 and 1664, a maximum of 10,000 pont (1657 and 1658) and a minimum of 800 pont (1643) was ordered.
Lead rolls
Lead was requisitioned for the Indics in very large quantities (see Green, 1977). In 1640, for example, 10,000,000
pont of lead was ordered and annoaJ orders often exceeded one million pont. Three lead rolls were recovered from the site. The rolls weighed approximately 200 kg each and were 865 mm or about 3 voet long.
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