274 ACCOUNT OF CELEBES , AMBOYNA, ,&C.
1769, as krankbezoeker * to India ; and, together with feveral others, he was fentback to Holland at the expence of Governor Van der Parra, to be fitted for takingorders, and he had returned the preceding year as a qualified divine, and had fhortlyafterwards been fent to Amboyna, where there was little likelihood of his evangelicalmiffion being remarkably exemplary or fuccefsful.
As this perfon did not underhand the Malay language, and had alfo very little in-clination to attain it, the divine fervice at prefent adminiftered in the Malay church,was confined to the reading of a fermon written in that language, which was effectedby a krankbezoeker, who performed the office of clerk, and U'ho was, as the above-mentioned clergyman was pleafed to fay, when he had been fcarcely a day or two atAmboyna, the only religious man on the ifland. However uncharitable and raffi theexpreffion of this opinion was, it is, however, a faff, that I met with very few peoplehere who had a tolerable knowledge of the doctrines of the reformed religion, or evenof the moral duties prefcribed by it.
There is a very confiderable number of nominal Chriftians, and who have receivedbaptiftn, as well on the peninfulas of Leytimor, as at other places. By an annotationin a refolution of the council of polity at Amboyna, of the nth of March 1774, itappeared, that the Reverend Mr. Van Einbrug found, on a church-vifitation (which hehad, however, by fome obftacles been prevented from completing), in a part only ofthe places belonging to this government, the number of twenty-one thoufand onehundred and twenty-four nominal Chriftians, but only eight hundred and forty-threechurch members.
The fuperftitious refpect which thefe nominal Chriftians pay to our clergymen, anda few outward figns of religion, are the principal marks by which they are diftinguilhedfrom the reft of their countrymen.
Befides the regular clergy there are kranbezoekers, and likewife ftationary anditinerant fchooi-mafters, who are all paid by the Company, and inftrudt the children ofthe Amboynefe in reading, writing, and pfalmody, for which purpofe a fchool is efta-bliffied in every negree, to which each inhabitant fends his children free of expence.
CHAP. XIX. — The Europeans at Amboyna ; — Their Mode of living. — The Women.— Drefs. — Sedan-chairs. — Account of the Town ; — Streets ; — Churches ; —Stadhoufe, or Town-hall; — Hofpital; — Houfes. — Springs ; — Rivers. — Gardenof the Governor. — Fortrefs of New Victoria ; — Its Advantages and Defects. — Na-tural Strength of the Bay. — Propofals for new Fortifications. — Other little Forts inthis Province. — Buildings in the Cafile, not yet completed. — Expence of the EreCliotiof the Fort , SsV.
THE number of Europeans, at leaft of thofe who have any quality in the fervice ofthe Company, is fo fmall, that little can in general be faid with refpedt to any peculiarmode of living they may obferve. One thing, however, is immediately an objedt ofremark to ftrangers, and that is, that in the forenoon more ftrong liquor is drank,either arrack or geneva, than at Batavia, or in the weft of India , though at Macafferit is almoft the fame; ten or twelve drams is not an uncommon whet in a morning atAmboyna ; and on fetting down to dinner, a glafs of fpirits is the firft thing prefentedto the guefts to ftrengthen the ftomach, and raife an appetite.
* Krankbezoeker is perfe&ly fyncnimous with ziekentroofter, for an explanation of which term fee thenote to page 515 of the firft volume j the former is literally “ a vifitcr of the fick,” as ziekentroofter is a“ comforter of the lick.” Tr.
8 I found