Page 102 - Dutch Asiatic Shipping Volume 1

came to 117 days, i.e. nearly four months (table 20). A daily distance was covered of on
average 64 miles. It is remarkable that ships from Bengal and China covered the distance
in significantly shorter times, of 107 and 103 days respectively.
Table 20: Average duration of voyage The Cape - Netherlands by port of departure in Asia
(in days)
Bat. Cey.
Bat. Cey. Ben. Chi.
127 124
116 118
114 111
118 111 110 98
124 121 116 114
115 116 107 98
104 98 94 93
106 106 100 98
115 148 102 128
112 115 91 113
116 116 107 103
1610-19 119
1620-29 126
1630-39 120
1640-49 137
1650-59 131
1660-69 121 Ill
1670-79 114 111
1680-89 108 110
1690-99 113 116
1610-99 119 113
1610-1795 117 115
Total duration of the return voyage
1700-09
1710-19
1720-29
1730-39
1740-49
1750-59
1760-69
1770-79
1780-89
1790-95
1700-95
The distance of the return voyage from Batavia was considerably shorter than that of the
voyage out. The difference amounted to about 1500 miles, i.e. 10%. The route did not
feature any zones of particular navigational difficulty, such as the wagenspoor on the
outward journey. Apart from the detour round Scotland it was possible to follow the most
direct route, with due regard for calling at the Cape, a total of approximately 13,400 and
14,000 miles respectively.
The average duration of the voyage was 235 days, i.e. a good seven and a half months
(see table 21). Measured along the shorter route this meant a daily distance of 66 miles,
Table 21: Average duration of voyage Asia - Netherlands (in days)
Bat. Cey.
1610-19 230
1620-29 230
1630-39 218
1640-49 218
1650-59 230
1660-69 228 200
1670-79 222 206
1680-89 241 209
1690-99 243 222
1610-99 230 212
1610-1795 235 224
Bat. Cey. Ben. Chi.
1700-09 249 228
1710-19 242 233
1720-29 231 238
1730-39 243 229 220 230
1740-49 261 223 226 222
1750-59 232 216 216 220
1760-69 208 194 192 216
1770-79 227 204 192 216
1780-89 234 271 209 252
1790-95 254 236 197 237
1700-95 237 227 209 225