The Wreck of the Batavia: A True Story

I was fascinated by this concise, easy-to-read, and easy-to-understand account of the Dutch merchant ship, Batavia, which was wrecked on a coral archipelago off the western coast of Ausstralia in 1629. In addition to it's cargo, the Batavia carried nearly 300 men, women, and children. The story of the Batavia covers 59 pages, which was enough for me. For anyone interested in a more detailed account of the tragedy of the Batavia, the author recommends the work of Mike Dash, the author of "Batavia's Graveyard" which was published in 2002. Because I truly enjoy stories of the sea, I also enjoyed the second part of the book which is a personal essay about the author's 1958 summer experience as a crew member aboard Prosper, one of the last of the sail-driven tuna-fishing boats from Brittany. An experienced sailor myself, I can appreciate the thrill of a fishing boat actually working while being powered soley by the wind.

What is it that turns men into monsters? Is it some disconnect in the brain brought about by some personal horrible experience? Or is it merely something that's in all of us, kept in check by laws, conscience, religion, SOMETHING, but which for some doesn't exist or is suppressed or denied? In a long essay in this book, Leys explores this theme. The Batavia was a Dutch East India Ship that wrecked off the Houtman Abrolhos near Austrailia in June 1629. Three-hundred some survivors, men, women, and children, found themselves on a tiny island, an island that Leys's own in-person investigation indicates would have been able to support such a stranded group fairly well. What came about instead was a brutal reign of terror that included murder, rape, and torture. After a fierce power struggle, Jeronimus Cornelisz, a junior officer on the ship, emerged as the leader, one who ruled with not only an iron fist, but also a bloody one. Like all despotic terrorists throughout history Cornelisz knew how to maintain control: do all things, especially the most brutal, indiscriminately. Men were killed for no reason at all. Women were offered the choice of granting sexual favors or death. This horrific nightmare lasted for three months until a rescue ship arrived from Java; Cornelisz was executed immediately after a brief trial aboard the ship. Two-thirds of the 300+ survivors had been murdered. Leys attempts to answer the question of motivation behind Cornelisz's barbaric behavior, but comes up with nothing concrete. Perhaps it was something in his past, perhaps someone he knew in Holland that influenced him in some way, but it's anyone's guess. Just another sad example of man's inhumanity toward his fellow men, though an extreme one (for the most part). Also included in this relatively short book is an essay by Leys about when he worked on a tuna boat one summer. Though somewhat interesting, it has the feeling of being only filler for the book. The main section, however, is compelling, as in-depth looks at mankind's darkest sides usually are.