[32] This Spanish establishment was at Kelung, on the northern coast of Formosa; the fort seems to have been located on an island in Kelung Bay (now called Palm Island by the Europeans resident there). The shores of the bay are precipitous, formed by a mountain range; and the lookout station (la Mira) seems to have been placed on one of these heights. (See Reseña biográfica, i, p. 421, note; Murray's Handbook of Japan, p. 538.)
Tan-chuy is now Tamsui. "'The old Dutch fort' with its walls of nearly eight feet of masonry and lime still commands the port of Tamsui, as firm and solid and as imposing as when built two hundred and fifty years ago." In the French bombardment of 1884 "the shells did no damage and scarcely left a mark on the noble structure." (Davidson, Formosa, p. 23.)
[33] Spanish retirada; a part of the fort which is made especially strong, and well supplied with provisions, into which the garrison may retreat for their final stand; it may be translated also "stronghold" or "citadel."
[34] The governor-general at this time of the Dutch possessions in the Orient was Antonio Van Diemen; his term of office was from January 1, 1636, to his death, April 19, 1645. A sketch of his life, with portrait, is found in Valentyn's Oud en nieuw Oost-Indien, deel iv, pp. 293-295.
[35] This man, the successor of Traudenius, was Maximilian le Maire; he remained in the post of governor of Formosa only one year, 1643-44.
[36] The Dominicans sent to Batavia were: Fray Teodoro Quirós de la Madre de Dios, Fray Pedro de Chaves, Fray Juan de los Angeles, and two lay brethren (one of whom, Pedro Ruiz del Rosario, died at Batavia). With them were sent also some Franciscans who had a house at Tai-wan. (Reseña biográfica, i, p. 421.)
[37] Banjarmasin is a principality and river on the southern side of Borneo, under the rule of the Dutch; the inhabitants are Malays (who are Mahometans) and Dyaks.
[38] Spanish, aquella hermosa conquista; a play of words, Hermosa being the old Spanish name of the island. Formosa, its modern name, is the Portuguese form, both names meaning "beautiful."
[39] Pedro de Chaves made his profession in the Dominican convent at Salamanca, in 1628. He came to the Philippines in 1635, and was sent to Formosa; but soon afterward went to China. Later, the Dominican missionaries in that empire were banished; and Chaves, attempting to return to Formosa, was captured by the Dutch. Reaching Manila in 1643, he spent the rest of his life there, mainly in labors among the Chinese; and died on January 16, 1660. (Reseña biográfica, i, pp. 425, 426.)