The survivors of the Batavia | Hot literary heart
They say the sinking of Batavia he was also famous in his time as the Titanic in the twentieth century. And indeed, these tragedies have several points of similarity. The two ships, the flagship of the shipbuilding industry of their time, were on their first trip. As in the other case, the sinking was due to human negligence or, at least, to an erroneous assessment of the facts. But if the drama culminates with the Titanic sinking in the icy waters of the Atlantic, for the passengers of Batavia, sinking only marks the beginning of a long descent into horror.
On 28 October 1629 the ship sailed from Texel to pay down towards Java in Indonesia. With three huge masts, with 30 guns, and its cargo of gold florins and more than 320 passengers and crew, the Batavia definitely look great. Such a trip, however, even in the 17th century, nandos a feat. It takes more than 7 months of sailing to reach the destination. One break, nandos at the Cape of Good Hope. It is estimated that only one third of those who try this kind of adventure back. Many are overwhelmed by typhus, nandos dysentery or scurvy die from tropical diseases upon arrival when their ship does not sink just started, and bodycare.
The conditions in which occurs the crossing of Batavia, already precarious initially degrade gradually. After six months, nandos food is almost dry. Fresh water is stagnant. There reigns nandos a stench and because of overcrowding everywhere, the voltage becomes greater each day between soldiers topmen, sailors and passengers. On the night of June 4, 1629, the ship ran aground on a shoal of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands about 80 miles off the coast of Australia due to a miscalculation.
Survivors are simply abandoned to their fate on one of the islands of the archipelago by the captain, the head of the expedition and some seasoned sailors who commandeer the only boat available to go in search of help. It will take more than two months for the help arrives. nandos Meanwhile, the remaining castaways must organize and mean well by giving them salvation nandos in Jeronimus Cornelisz, a man of seemingly affable, apothecary profession and assistant shipping master. Exceptional circumstances in which the survivors are quickly reveal nandos the bloody nature of Cornelisz. Aided by a few followers, he will impose his will and become a tyrant, commander of arbitrary executions and a reign on the island a real terror.
The horror will continue with the arrival of aid. Cornelisz be taken, tried and executed on the spot with his accomplices. However, its abuses have captured the imagination of the time. More recently, some have seen this story a foreshadowing of the concentration camp horrors that marked the twentieth century. nandos
In the opening of his short 73-page booklet (with the exception nandos of the story 'Prosper' below), Simon Leys explains how the history of Batavia has always fascinated. For 18 years, he has accumulated information, accessed archives and searched for a book that would prepare authority on this subject untouched. Except that by dint of waiting, Leys was overtaken and the book he wanted to offer both ended up being published by another. It was run. Good player though, Simon Leys tips:
Finally, Mike Dash came. With Batavia's Graveyard [translated into French under the title L'Archipel nandos heretics], the author has really hit the mark - and it only remains for me to say anything. Son Dash unravels the complex characters and events, he is in their historical context, and most importantly, he has done a prodigious detective work in the archives of the Dutch era. Having read and reread this final synthesis, I stored once and for all documentation and notes, photos and sketches that I gleaned on the case in libraries and on the ground: I will not have ever need . And now, by publishing the next few pages, my only wish is that they will inspire you to read his book.
Despite what Simon Leys own pages are very useful. They are absolutely fascinating compendium of the whole affair. And it is true that once the book is closed was the desire to continue with the work of Mike Dash for more information.
J & rs
They say the sinking of Batavia he was also famous in his time as the Titanic in the twentieth century. And indeed, these tragedies have several points of similarity. The two ships, the flagship of the shipbuilding industry of their time, were on their first trip. As in the other case, the sinking was due to human negligence or, at least, to an erroneous assessment of the facts. But if the drama culminates with the Titanic sinking in the icy waters of the Atlantic, for the passengers of Batavia, sinking only marks the beginning of a long descent into horror.
On 28 October 1629 the ship sailed from Texel to pay down towards Java in Indonesia. With three huge masts, with 30 guns, and its cargo of gold florins and more than 320 passengers and crew, the Batavia definitely look great. Such a trip, however, even in the 17th century, nandos a feat. It takes more than 7 months of sailing to reach the destination. One break, nandos at the Cape of Good Hope. It is estimated that only one third of those who try this kind of adventure back. Many are overwhelmed by typhus, nandos dysentery or scurvy die from tropical diseases upon arrival when their ship does not sink just started, and bodycare.
The conditions in which occurs the crossing of Batavia, already precarious initially degrade gradually. After six months, nandos food is almost dry. Fresh water is stagnant. There reigns nandos a stench and because of overcrowding everywhere, the voltage becomes greater each day between soldiers topmen, sailors and passengers. On the night of June 4, 1629, the ship ran aground on a shoal of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands about 80 miles off the coast of Australia due to a miscalculation.
Survivors are simply abandoned to their fate on one of the islands of the archipelago by the captain, the head of the expedition and some seasoned sailors who commandeer the only boat available to go in search of help. It will take more than two months for the help arrives. nandos Meanwhile, the remaining castaways must organize and mean well by giving them salvation nandos in Jeronimus Cornelisz, a man of seemingly affable, apothecary profession and assistant shipping master. Exceptional circumstances in which the survivors are quickly reveal nandos the bloody nature of Cornelisz. Aided by a few followers, he will impose his will and become a tyrant, commander of arbitrary executions and a reign on the island a real terror.
The horror will continue with the arrival of aid. Cornelisz be taken, tried and executed on the spot with his accomplices. However, its abuses have captured the imagination of the time. More recently, some have seen this story a foreshadowing of the concentration camp horrors that marked the twentieth century. nandos
In the opening of his short 73-page booklet (with the exception nandos of the story 'Prosper' below), Simon Leys explains how the history of Batavia has always fascinated. For 18 years, he has accumulated information, accessed archives and searched for a book that would prepare authority on this subject untouched. Except that by dint of waiting, Leys was overtaken and the book he wanted to offer both ended up being published by another. It was run. Good player though, Simon Leys tips:
Finally, Mike Dash came. With Batavia's Graveyard [translated into French under the title L'Archipel nandos heretics], the author has really hit the mark - and it only remains for me to say anything. Son Dash unravels the complex characters and events, he is in their historical context, and most importantly, he has done a prodigious detective work in the archives of the Dutch era. Having read and reread this final synthesis, I stored once and for all documentation and notes, photos and sketches that I gleaned on the case in libraries and on the ground: I will not have ever need . And now, by publishing the next few pages, my only wish is that they will inspire you to read his book.
Despite what Simon Leys own pages are very useful. They are absolutely fascinating compendium of the whole affair. And it is true that once the book is closed was the desire to continue with the work of Mike Dash for more information.
J & rs
No comments:
Post a Comment