Golconda
The British are like the strong rapid current of water, they are persevering,
energetic, and irresistible in their courage. If they really want to obtain some
thing they will use violence to get it. The Dutch are very able, clever, patient,
and calm. If possible they try to reach their goal by persuasion than by force
of arms. It may well happen that Java will be conquered by the British.he Romans had a saying, Pecunia non olet—Money does not
JL smell. People may not like the way it was made or the person who
made it, but they like, and will take, the money.
In another sense, though, money does smell, powerfully, and its
odor will draw people from far and near.
In 1592, England was at war with Spain and Portugal, which we saw
had been joined to the Spanish crown by the play of marriage and in
heritance. Some four years before, the English had repelled and de
stroyed a Spanish seaborne invasion (the self-styled Invincible Armada).
Now an English naval squadron was waiting off the Azores to intercept
and capture Spanish ships coming from the New World and perhaps
laden with the treasure of Mexico or Peru, when along came a Por
tuguese carrack. This was the Madré de Deus, back from the East Indies,
- Golconda: ( 1 ) A ruined city of western Andhra Pradesh, Republic of India, the cap
ital (1512-1687) of a former Muslim kingdom. (2) A source of great riches, as a
mine—The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 1978.
t The prince had returned from some years of exile in Ceylon. Cited by Vlekke, Nu-
santara, pp. 225-26.
—A Javanese prince, c. 1780 t