This book provides an original study of the sizeable Portuguese community in Ayutthaya, the chief river-state in Siam, during a period of apparent decline (1640-1720). Portuguese populations were displaced from their chief settlements like Melaka and Makassar, and attracted to the river-states of mainland South-East Asia by a protective model of kingship, hopes of international trade and the opportunity to harvest souls. A variety of sources will be used to shed light on the fortunes and make-up of this displaced, mixed-race 'tribe', which was largely independent of the matrices of Portuguese colonial power, and fared poorly alongside other foreign communities in this remarkably open, dynamic environment. Circumstances changed for the better after the National Revolution of 1688, when Portuguese started to fill many of the jobs at court and in commerce previously occupied by Frenchmen and northern Europeans.

Saris's journal, with two of his reports to the East India Company, a letter, and extracts from Purchas. Contents: Introduction.-The journal from Bantam to Japan and back to England.-App. A: Two letters written by Saris on his return. I. From the Cape, June 1, 1614. II. From Plymouth, October 17, 1614.-App. B: Observations of Saris on the Eastern trade, compiled during his residence at Bantam as factor. This is a new print-on-demand hardback edition of the volume first published in 1900.