John Saris (c.1580–1643), the Master of the mission and Captain of The Clove wrote a ‘ship’s log’ which we are fortunate to be able to read, 400 years later..
This is the the entry on 10th June, just before they reached current day Hirado (then written in English as ‘Hirando’ or ‘Firando’):
“… and soone after came 4 greate fisher boats a boarde, about 5 tunnes a peece in burthen, they sailed with one saile which stood like a stiff saile, and sculd with 4 oares on a side, theire oares resting upon a pynn fastened on the top of the boates side, the heade of which pynn was soe lett into the middle parte of the oare, that the oare did hange in his uise peaze, soe that the labour of Roer is much lesse then otherwise it must be, yet do they make farr greater speede then our people, with rowinge, and performe theire worke standinge, as ours doe sittinge, soe that they take the lesse roome.” (p.143)
… …
“Wee agreed with two of the maisters of the Fisher boates (for30 Royalls of 8 a peece in money and rice for theire foode) to pilatt us into Firando; which agreement made, thiere people entred our shipp and performed voluntarilie theire laboure, as readilie as anie of our marriners.” (p.144)
Trace the 2-year voyage to Japan here and read the timeline and historical overview.
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